jazz
TRACK: Azmari – ‘Azalaï’: aboard the Brussels Afro/Persian jazz sextet’s caravan
AZMARI is a sextet formed in Brussels in 2015 with a deep take on the North African groove. The name? Well, an azmari is literally “one who praises” in Amharic; an Ethiopian singer-musician, comparable to the European bard. Reportedly inspired by such leading lights as Mulatu Astatke, Cymande, Fela Kuti and The Heliocentrics, the band performed at …
Live Review: Gwilym Simcock, London Jazz Festival – 606 Club live stream 19.11.20
One of the quirky things about reviewing live streams for BSM during the London Jazz Festival week is that it has actually begun to feel that I’ve been going to different places- The Barbican, King’s Place, The Green Note, Café Oto, The Total Refreshment Centre and tonight it’s off to renowned jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock’s …
Premiere: Crawford Mack releases new visuals for ‘Turning’
Taken from his recently released debut album ‘Bread & Circuses’, Glaswegian songwriter Crawford Mack has released new visuals for the track ‘Turning’ taken from the album, and we’re delighted to be able to premiere them right here on Backseat Mafia this morning. Crawford says of the track “I wrote the track initially about being reminded …
Album Review: Tori Handsley – ‘As We Stand’
FOREVER associated with folklore whimsy, celestial mystery and the delicate songstress, maybe the harp will always have an image problem? Of course in jazz there have inevitably been those who have been able to shove this immovable object away from its own clichés – think the improvisational drive of Dorothy Ashby or spiritual lift of …
SEE: Busty and the Bass – ‘Eddie’; cool Canadian jazzers also announce live stream
MONTREAL’S crisp, sprawling (there’s eight of ’em) soul-jazz outfit Busty and the Bass have just released the video for the title track from their August album, “Eddie”. We reviewed the album back in the summer and applauded its sophisticated jazz-funk stylez, with both Macy Gray and George Clinton climbing aboard for guest slots; and one …
Live Review: Tenderlonious, London Jazz Festival: Shoreditch Town Hall, November 22nd
So the last night of the London Jazz festival and you can imagine what might have been in the unrestricted freedom of pre-COVID times. Tenderlonious and chums playing a selection of earthy, energetic jazz funk from across the 22a catalogue to a jumping crowd rammed into the grand Victoriana of Shoreditch Town Hall. Sadly for …
TRACK: Claude Cooper’s ‘Tangerine Dreams’ 7″ launches Friendly Recordings
OK, OK. Two things. Firstly, do you like a little jazziness to your grooves? Nah, scrub that. Do you like a lot? Do you like a double bass line so up and atcha and tight and taut it could cut a man in half at 60 paces? That kinda thing. Do you miss Fingathing, more …
Live Review: Binker Golding, London Jazz Festival, King’s Place – 21.11.20
Even before saxophonist Binker Golding’s streamed show at King’s Place on Saturday night, we knew we were in for something a little bit out – there. The pre-show blurb had cautioned ‘expect the conventional boundaries of jazz to be pushed…’and came with a health warning ‘Please note, the ensemble will not be playing material from …
Track: Karaba – Spacefunk
Hailing from Munich, Karaba are a five piece jazz group who are recent signings to Berlin’s Kryptox label. The group are set to release their first EP on the label – ‘Pheromon Crumble Wax’ due 27th November. The first single to be taken from the EP is track – Spacefunk. The track floats all softly …
ALBUM REVIEW: Alabaster dePlume – ‘To Cy And Lee Instrumentals Vol. 1’
Thought-provoking British songwriter delves into jazzy instrumental vignettes