Deepest Cuts of October 2018

Things ramp up musically come October. September is a slow opening up of the tune taps but by this point there is a quickening flurry of quality records dropping at about the pace of leaves from the trees. 

Anyone thinking about hibernating should stop. The nights drawing in just means that the best parties are on their way. We've already had the surprise, one weekend only, reopening of Total Refreshment Centre (if you missed it, check the reunion party at Studio 9294 this Friday 2nd Nov), there's a raft of album launch shows across the next month, and it's the London Jazz Festival in a few weeks too.

Here's some tracks which have been released, announced or have otherwise made it to my ears recently.

1. Pete Beardsworth - To The Place [Running Circle]

I have spent precisely one day of my life in Nottingham so far but I'm increasingly thinking I need to put some proper time into investigating the music scene. The big breakout story of the past year must be the fantastic Yazmin Lacey whose smoky voice has found a home on First Word Records.

There's an entanglement in her story with Pete Beardsworth - not only has the saxophonist and pianist produced two of Lacey's EPs, he's also part of Nottingham jazzers Three Body Trio, who were also on Brownswood's Future Bubblers talent development scheme in the same year as.. Lacey. All three have released on Running Circle, which as far as I can tell, is also run by Pete Beardsworth.

Back on topic - this is the debut solo EP from Pete Beardsworth written during a lonely year spent in recovery from a traumatic accident. With this set, he has conjured beauty out of somewhere dark and this tune in particular - To The Place - has been stuck in my head solidly since first listen. The catchy melodic line plays off the more frantic sax passages and the heartening sfx of playground-like chatter completes the joyful package.

Catch the set live at the Jazz Café on December 9th.

2. Julien Dyne - Copernicus [Soundway Records]

I can't wait to play this out. Big tune from NZ-based drummer and producer Julien Dyne. A Red Bull Music Academy graduate with multiple releases on BBE, Dyne's new material has inched a little closer to the dance floor and Soundway Records have dropped this new set, his fourth. Teal is a big'n, a little bit afro-house with a tasty horn line and a fat clav in the mix for good measure.

3. Web Web - Land Of The Arum Flower [Compost Records]

This is a magic collaboration between the German jazz quartet Web Web and Majid Bekkas who is a Moroccan jazz and Gnawa singer and gembri player (a three-stringed bass lute). The result is a timeless track which begins as a solid, fairly trad, ride heavy jazz number and slips into a haunting piece as the vocal and unsettling minor organ lines rise up - the sax solo which follows runs with this feeling into a melancholy final head before it all begins to fall away.

4. Te'Amir - Blue Nile [Tru Thoughts]

From the second of two recent EPs melding his experience as a drummer and beatmaker in the LA scene with his Ethiopian heritage and early influence from his Dad's record collection, this is a high-quality, driving, percussive workout by Te'Amir.

5. Marijus Aleksa - Run The Sun

My highlight from a set of four jazz-house leaning tunes by London based Lithuanian drummer Marijus Aleksa, all of which clock in at over 8 minutes. Delicately put together, there's a lot going on but the keys, vibraphone, percussion and bass lines all find space in the mix to stand out. I reckon there's an uncredited bass clarinet in there as well, unless that's a mad-convincing synth.

Catch him live as part of Rhythm Section's next Jazz Café showcase on November 29th alongside Kwake Bass and the Neue Grafik Ensemble.

6. Maisha - Osiris [Brownswood, drops November 9th]

Led by drummer Jake Long, this is some spiritual jazz from a range of the capital's top calibre young players - let's name drop to hammer the point home - Nubya Garcia (sax/flute), Shirley Tetteh (guitar), Amané Suganami (keys), Twm Dylan (bass), Tim Doyle and Yahael Camara-Onono (both percussion).

​The album launch party is at Ghost Notes on November 22nd - don't miss.

These are just a handful of the tracks I've spun on Deeper Cuts recently, so if you're after more, do check out my shows for September and October.

The October 25th show features Gondwana Records boss, trumpeter and composer Matthew Halsall chatting spiritual jazz, meditation and 10 years of the label.

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Thanks for reading and I'll leave you with a couple of further gig tips..

Friday 16th November - Chip Wickham - Corsica Studios
Brilliant Mancunian jazz flautist, now signed to Madrid label Lovemonk and in London for a Jazz Festival show.

Tuesday 20th November - SEED Ensemble - Vortex Jazz Club
I love the Vortex, but I'm not sure how easily they will fit all 10 pieces of saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi's SEED Ensemble onto their cosy stage. 

Karl x