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UK Jazz & Soul

Bridging Worlds: Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua Returns With ‘Ti abenu ati ti ita titete (Inner Outer Alignment Volume 1)’

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Executive Overview For over two decades, the boundary-pushing British-Nigerian saxophonist, composer, and Ifá priest Kevin Haynes has maintained a singular, uncompromising vision within the global jazz landscape. His work refuses to neatly partition contemporary modern jazz from the ancient, spiritually saturated rhythms of Yoruba music. Now, twenty-four years after the release of his celebrated independent … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Navigating the Sonic Highway: Danny Thompson’s Whatever and the Monumental Journey of On The Road

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Executive Overview For decades, the standard anthems of automotive motion have been dominated by the neon-lit mythos of the American highway. From Bobby Troup’s “Route 66” to Kraftwerk’s rhythmic, electronic gaze down the “Autobahn,” and even the high-octane British swagger of the Tom Robinson Band’s “2-4-6-8 Motorway,” songs about travel have typically hitched their wagons … Read more

British Folk & Acoustic

Preserving the Vernacular Soul of America: The Enduring Legacy of Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records, and Roots Music Preservation

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Executive Overview The landscape of American vernacular music—spanning the raw delta blues, soul-stirring gospel, lively Cajun and zydeco, Appalachian hillbilly tunes, and the vibrant rhythms of Texas-Mexican norteño—would look vastly different without the tireless dedication of Chris Strachwitz. As the founder of Arhoolie Records, Strachwitz operated a singular, fiercely independent record label for over four … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Executive Overview

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The contemporary European jazz landscape thrives on nuance, historical lineage, and cross-cultural synthesis. Few artists embody this synthesis as completely as pianist and composer Jean-Martial “Jean-Marie” Machado. With the release of his fourth piano trio album, Como as Flores, Machado redefines the boundaries of modern chamber jazz, blending Mediterranean warmth, Brazilian rhythmic vitality, and a … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Executive Overview

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In the realm of modern cinematic pastiche and retrospective groove culture, few releases manage to transcend the inherent pastiche of the genre. Enter A Day Of Unrest, the fourth studio album from Eleven76—the enigmatic production-housing project masterminded by documentarian and percussionist Paul Elliott. Released via Légère Recordings, this 12-track collection bypasses the traditional constraints of … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

The Renaissance of a Brazilian Masterpiece: Vampisoul Revives Marcos Valle’s 1972 Psychedelic-Progressive Gem, Vento Sul

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Executive Overview In the sprawling pantheon of Brazilian popular music (MPB), few artists possess the chameleon-like capability of Marcos Valle. A pioneer who helped define the luminous, sun-kissed contours of the 1960s bossa nova explosion, Valle never allowed himself to be creatively boxed into a single genre. While his peers frequently adhered to established formulas, … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Executive Overview

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In the heart of Paris, at the Théâtre Silvia Monfort and its surrounding parklands, an empty chair spoke volumes. It was September 28, 2024, and the independent French label No Format! was celebrating its twentieth anniversary with carte blanche given to virtuoso cellist Vincent Segal. The conceptual blueprint for the day was ambitious: a sprawling, … Read more

Music Technology & Gear

Inside the Mind of Ableton: Gerhard Behles on 25 Years of Software, Stewardship, and the Soul of Electronic Music

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By the Editorial Desk Special Feature / Music Technology & Industry Analysis Executive Overview In an era dominated by rapid corporate consolidation, venture capital injections, and private equity buyouts, Ableton stands as an enduring anomaly. As it approaches a quarter-century of shaping electronic music production, the Berlin-based titan of digital audio workstations (DAWs) remains staunchly … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Sonic Alchemy and Artistic Synergy: Richard X Bennett and Paula Jeanine Bennett Return with Amaryllis 2

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Executive Overview In an era where contemporary music is increasingly driven by algorithmic optimization and hyper-fragmented digital releases, true collaborative artistry remains a rare and precious commodity. Enter Amaryllis 2, the latest triumphant full-length offering from the Brooklyn-based creative partnership of musician and producer Richard X Bennett and vocalist-percussionist Paula Jeanine Bennett. Released via the … Read more

UK Jazz & Soul

Reclaiming the Pulse: Stephen McCraven’s Heritage and the Living Continuum of Avant-Garde Jazz

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Executive Overview For decades, the name McCraven occupied a curious footnote in the margins of international jazz discography. From the erroneous "Stephen McGraven" logged by Cash Box in August 1980 upon the arrival of Wooley the Newt, to the "Steve McRaven" credited on Archie Shepp’s 1992 masterpiece Black Ballads, and the "Mac Graven" listed in … Read more

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