John Parry, Author at Backseat Mafia

Album Review: Matters Unknown – ‘Silhouettes: A Dream Sphere Journal’ EP’: enriching nu-jazz, poignant and powerful.

Trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Enser is possibly best known as a key member of pioneering global beat collective Nubiyan Twist but away from that thriving collective he’s sculpting his own…

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Album Review: Red Gazelle Trio – ‘On A Human Level’: naturally soulful and melodically warm, a new Nordic jazz gem.

Perceptions and pronouncements about Nordic Jazz can often return to parts of the classic ECM catalogue with its sophisticated coolness, ambient leanings and breathtaking spaciousness. But naturally, the Scandinavian scene…

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Album Review: Lawrence English – ‘Even The Horizon Knows Its Bounds’: evocative electronic music which engulfs and surrounds.

Considering theorist, writer, artist, curator and composer Lawrence English’s creative output over the last two decades, the phrase ‘a body of work’ inevitably looms. It’s a descriptor that generally feels…

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Album Review: Être Ensemble – ‘Sans Toi’: Joni Void’s leftfield collective take a looping, twitchy, journey of despair and beauty

Jean Néant aka Joni Void, sonic collagist, producer and beat-maker may be most visible as the persona responsible for three singular Constellation albums (‘Selfless‘, ‘Miss En Abyme’ and 2023’s ‘Everyday…

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Album Review: Lophae – ‘Perfect Strangers’: thrilling, fine-tuned jazz with subtle powers.

There’s a playful irony in both the band and album names chosen by this new London jazz quartet led by guitarist/composer Greg Sanders. For a start this lush, intricately woven…

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Track/Video : Jupiter & Okwess, Congolese fusion funksters, preview new album with the sizzling ‘Congo Blinders’.

They may be veterans of the tight Congolese street music scene but Jupiter & Okwess have always thrived on going beyond these roots. Formed by Jupiter Bokondji in 1990 the…

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News: Legendary Finnish experimental rockers Circle announce ‘Piste’, a sound-art installation to be experienced.

Remember Finnish deep-prog legends Circle and their irrepressible collaboration with super-fan Richard Dawson in 2021,’Henki’? It was an album of spirit and invention, oozing warmth in a very loud manner…

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Track: Rising UK jazzers MATTERS UNKNOWN preview new EP with the sweeping ‘I Am The Birds’.

Brass player, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Jonathan Enser’s most recent project MATTERS UNKNOWN highlights the irrepressible fluidity of contemporary UK Jazz. Well known as a key member of pioneering global beat…

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Track : Peace Flag Ensemble preview upcoming album with the intricate ambient jazz ballad ‘The Past Is What Changes The Most’.

Now here’s some news that makes looking beyond the festive maul less difficult. Saskatchewan sound sculptors Peace Flag Ensemble have announced that their new album ‘Everything is Possible’ will arrive…

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Album Review: Maalem Houssam Guinia – ‘Dead Of Night’ : An unforgettable, intense offering from the Gnawa master-musician

We should be mighty thankful for the long and strong relationship that’s grown between Brighton’s Hive Mind Records and Guinia family of Gnawa musicians in Morocco. Back in 2017, the…

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