:n-the-m:x | May 2025

Welcome to our monthly mix series with each episode spotlighting 10 tracks that we were particularly excited about across various shows on Blue-in-Green:RADIO. This month showcases a selection providing a near 40-minute excursion from eclectic R&B, some sublime jazz along with some dance and lush electronica selections to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Enough' by Jamie Shew

'Gledaj Pravo' by DIL Trio (A.MA Records)

'Starlight' by Badge & Talkalot featuring Denitia

'Be Like a Cloud' by Ojiaji (HopeStreet Records)

'Rock With You' by Jose James featuring Takuya Kuroda (Rainbow Blonde Records)

'First Day' by Leona Berlin

'First Light (Ode to the Sun)' by Lehto (Bathurst)

'Everyday' by Werkha featuring Roghnach Connolly) (First Word)

'Whirlwind' by Socool (Dragon Trax Records)

'Xylophonics VI' [Ordos Mk.0 Remix] by JG Stockton (Dragon Trax)

:n-the-m:x is exclusive to our Mixcloud channel so be sure to check back at the end of every month for future round-ups.

'Silver Sands' by Badge & Talkalot

'Silver Sands' marks the latest full-length from Gilberto Caleffi under his long-running music moniker, Badge & Talkalot.

Renowned for his ever-evolving perspectives on soul music, the Italian DJ and producer has continually revelled in his ability to hone in on different aspects of the genre through each of his eclectic releases.  While 'Greatest Hints' in 2009 catered to more of his pop sensibilities, 'Spaghetti Blaster' opted to target the dance-floor through a project that shifted towards more up-tempo soul via a disco-leaning aesthetic. 

As part of the ongoing Badge & Talkalot journey, subsequent releases in 'Fragments of the Soul' (2020) and 'The Gap' (2023) ushered in more of a neo-soul soundscape with edgier street soul at the core of the projects.  Even Caleffi's hip-hop-inspired alter ego BANDT offered up a further engaging dimension to his music by embracing his affections for the genre through the album 'PERIOD.' released last year - a project bolstered by the inclusion of underground heroes MED, Blu and Guilty Simpson who delivered strong contributions to Caleffi's golden age, boom bap-styled production.

'The Gap' in particular provides the perfect gateway to Caleffi's latest release - with sensational tracks like the Steven Bamidele-assisted 'To Call My Own' and 'Blue Notes' featuring vocalist JazzZ, 'The Gap' was demonstrative of Caleffi's all-round skill and showed off a perfect balance between varying facets of R&B and soul.

'Silver Sands' is very much the product of all the albums that came before it.  An album that embraces neo-soul at its heart and pushes that little further towards a more organic-sounding, blues-esque backdrop that generates some sublime results.

With Caleffi leading the helm, the project is supported by long-time collaborators in bassist Paolo Zoboli, guitarist Fabio Pancani and keyboardist Luca Bosi who provide lush canvases for the Badge & Talkalot lineage of securing incredible vocalists.  Another frequent collaborator in Ian Whitelaw guests on two of the album's tracks along with Kevin Mark Trail who helps reimagine Duran Duran's 1987 single 'Skin Trade'.  Kristen Merritt adds a dose of charm on the sweet and soulful 'Hideaway' while Denitia breathes scintillating life into 'I Wish You Would' and 'Starlight'.  As a frequent collaborator for Quantic and Sly5thAve, Denitia's unique and soulful slice of Americana unsurprisingly generates two sensationally high points for the album.

As the musical journey shows no signs of running out of steam for Badge & Talkalot, 'Silver Sands' will certainly be a project that listeners will return to as a standout release amongst Caleffi's catalogue.

'Like a Tree It Grows' by Igmar Thomas' Revive Big Band

Hip-hop and jazz have been intrinsically linked for decades now.  For devoted fans who had become accustomed to trawling through the inlay cards of albums by Pete Rock, A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr to pick out names of collaborators and producers of tracks, their path would inevitably lead them to those very architects whose music formed the basis of songs all of those years later.  For a generation of music fan, hip-hop's greatest gift was the introduction to jazz via the works of Roy Ayers, Bobby Hutcherson, Ronnie Laws and Herbie Hancock.

In the words of trumpeter and band leader Igmar Thomas, "all Black music can be traced back to one root".  And while it is a path rooted in respect that sees us look back to the genre's architects, it can also be a path that takes us forward towards new musical discoveries.

As part of the impassioned vision of Revivalist founder Meghan Stabile - a baton now in the hands of the Revive Big Band composer and band leader Igmar Thomas - the mission statement of bridging the gap between jazz and hip-hop audiences remains and takes a big step forward following the release of 'Like a Tree It Grows'.

Much like Revive's 2015 collaboration with Blue Note Records for the 'Supreme Sonacy' project, 'Like a Tree It Grows' furthers the Revive brand and also marks the debut from Thomas' long-running Big Band project.  As a highly-educated and highly-decorated trumpeter and collaborator in his own right, Thomas has secured a litany of collaborations alongside Esperanza Spalding, Nigel Hall, The Nth Power and Kamasi Washington as well as touring duties with equally revered names.  Much of Thomas' musical ideologies have been rooted within that accessibility for jazz music and reimagining of ones' expectations of the genre and its framework.

Over the course of the sixteen tracks that comprise 'Like a Tree It Grows', there is a scintillating mish-mash of ideas and concepts that see Thomas & company - in Revive tradition - paying homage while carving their own path.  An album that openly wears its influences on its sleeve soars throughout with imagination and purpose.  The enthralling reinvention of the seminal Gang Starr anthem 'Words I Manifest' proves a definitive album highlight as the classic DJ Premier sample-based soundscape finds itself at the loving hands of the Revive Big Band ensemble with Raydar Ellis stepping in for the dearly-departed Guru.

With a phenomenal roll-call of jazz, soul and hip-hop talent enlisted, 'Like a Tree It Grows' thrives from the assistance of Bilal, Talib Kweli, Jean Baylor, Terrace Martin, Marcus Strickland, Marc Cary, Ben Williams, Brent Birckhead and Theo Croker, mentioning just a few.

'Like a Tree It Grows' feels like it carries an incredible weight of expectation upon its shoulders: it's an album that serves as the first Revive Big Band release in the group's fourteen years, an album that takes creative risks in the hopes of inspiring others to think outside of established frameworks and it's an album that serves as part of the legacy of the beloved Meghan Stabile who sadly passed away in 2022.  Igmar Thomas and the collective embrace these challenges head-on and deliver a fantastic project worthy of Revive's lineage to this point.

'Does it Make You Love Your Life?' by LIUN + The Science Fiction Band

LIUN + The Science Fiction Band unveil their latest offering in 'Does it Make You Love Your Life?', continuing the collectives' adventures in synth-pop meets nu-jazz.

The experimental project serves as the brainchild of Zurich-born vocalist Lucia Cadotsch and German saxophonist, keyboardist and producer Wanja Slavin who, backed by an epic ensemble of musicians, unveil a genuinely inspired perception of contemporary music that thrives upon jazz sensibilities alongside a new-wave pop aesthetic.  

For fans of singer and songwriter Cadotsch, listeners would surely have come to expect almost anything from her boundless versatility and ability to reinvent expectations through a variety of projects.  With 'Speak Low', released back in 2016 and backed by just Petter Eldh's bass and Otis Sandsjö's saxophone, the trio tackled some of jazz's richest catalogue with revered standards ingeniously recreated as a love letter to the genre's icons like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.  In truth, both have had their catalogues revisited countless times and in countless ways but the ambition put forward for 'Speak Low' - and its follow-up 'Speak Low II' in 2020 - is genuinely unparalleled.  

While the end-results for those albums were hauntingly brilliant and musically dynamic with Cadotsch's vocal immersed in an exquisite mystique, LIUN + The Science Fiction Band opts to defy expectations creating an album of equal fascination through entirely different means.  

Partnering alongside the highly-decorated Wanja Slavin, the German multi-instrumentalist has strived for a career just as dynamic.  With hefty contributions to varied projects including Wanja Slavin Trio, dragon-fly and Lotus Eaters, Slavin's affections for jazz have seen him perform and record alongside Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kenny Wheeler and Eric Harland as well as grace stages around the world.

Further comprised of an ever-evolving line-up of distinguished musicians, LIUN + The Science Fiction Band are represented by twenty musicians for this go-round including a thirteen-person string ensemble that adds scintillating textures throughout the album's eight tracks.  The music throughout the album straddles this intriguing line between infectious high-energy production to a style that seems pulled towards the mildly sombre tones of 'Speak Low'.  An elegant nuance captured perfectly through 'Katze' which serves as the album's ambitious centre-piece.  The track navigates a compelling journey over the its near-seven minutes, from a dream-like, sublime opening portion to its dance-infused climax - it really is magnificent.

With a litany of projects to their name, Lucia Cadotsch and Wanja Slavin have undoubtedly struck gold with LIUN + The Science Fiction Band.  A wonderfully ambitious project that begs repeated listens as subtle intricacies are revealed each time.

New Jazz RoundUP ::: May 2025

 

'Brugskunst' by Anne Efternøler & Lige Børn

Trumpeter Anne Efternøler reassembles her Lige Børn trio of bassists for the collective's follow-up to the warmly-received self-titled debut of 2022.  With Hobby Horse Records so open about their affections for innovative and improvised perspectives on contemporary jazz, Efternøler's latest release, 'Brugskunst', provides the Danish label with a further jewel amidst their burgeoning treasure chest of releases.  Featuring the bass prowess of Thomas Morgan, Anders Christensen and Richard Andersson, Efternøler's fourteen-track project takes a decidedly more minimalist approach to composition which is an approach that the trumpeter plays with throughout.  Serving as something of an allegory for today's abundance of information - particularly within the digital realms and the information and news available to each us via the convenience of just our phones - as a composer Efternøler seeks to deconstruct her music opting to strip it back to the bare essentials.  An ideal elegantly captured through the track 'All you need is less' - a sublime and intricate piece indicative of the care and attention poured into the album's music.

'Axiom' by Andrew Moreno

'Axiom' marks the new album release from Venezuelan-born and Rotterdam-based guitarist Andrew Moreno whose debut serves as a perfect accumulation of his years of travel, performance and collaboration.  Since setting out on his own in his late-teens, Moreno's passion for playing has taken him around Europe and seen him thrive amidst a variety collectives and ensembles over the years including performances at a series of notable European festivals including North Sea Jazz Festival, Breda Jazz Festival and Gratchen Jazz Festival.  To help Moreno in conveying his vision for 'Axiom', the guitarist has assembled his long-time friends and collaborators in double-bassist Jonathan Ho Chin Kiat, drummer Tristan Renfrow and saxophonists Tineke Postma and Bo Van Der Werf.  'Axiom' as a debut and a piece of work is reflective of Moreno's journey to this point in time and to this stage of his career - an album born of his experiences which are elegantly transformed into interwoven narratives amidst some exceptional compositions.  An excellent debut that goes a long way towards introducing the guitarist to a significantly grander audience.'

'The Actions 4s' by The Action 4s

April Records are known for presenting some genuinely fascinating pairings as part of the versatile make-up of their dynamic catalogue.  We're not far removed from the Duke Ellington-inspired ensemble Oh People which comprised Jonas Due, Andreas Toftemark, Casper Christensen, Lasse Mørck and Henrik Holst Hansen for their 'Part Time Elegance' debut.  And of course vocalist Nana Rashid's collaboration with April's jazz trio, Little North, for Rashid's 'Music for Betty' debut proved another notable highlight.  The Action 4s continue in the label's tradition of eclectic ensembles by pooling together the talents of harmonicist Mathias Heise, pianist Rasmus Sørensen, bassist Conor Chaplin and drummer Anton Eger for a vibrant and enthralling self-titled debut.  With each artist having put out some fantastic music and having established themselves as solo names in their own right, there's an undeniable magic that the quartet have stumbled upon now that they are making music together.  Recorded in Copenhagen over the course of three days in late-2023, the sessions were generated from a high level of improvisation along with a minor reinvention of the rule book along the way.  The album's variety of styles rely on synth-based compositions that veer subtly towards an electronic aesthetic as its backbone and ultimately deliver some outstanding pieces as well.

'Steep Steps' by Carl Winther, Richard Andersson & Jeff 'Tain' Watts

With just a year having passed between now and the trio's debut release 'WAW!' - both available through Hobby Horse Records - US drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts once again aligns with Danish musicians Carl Winther on piano and Richard Andersson on double-bass for their sophomore album release, 'Steep Steps'.  With their debut having received a rapturous reception along with some notable distinctions, the concoction of American swing and Danish panache is captured beautifully for this year's release once again recalling the charm and allure of its predecessor.  Winther, Andersson & Watts serve as three powerhouse names in their own right with some extraordinary successes between them that showcase their affections for improvised jazz, some world-class collaborations and global performances.  Through the "WAW" union, this Hobby Horse-helmed trio have now unveiled an exciting new avenue to add to their already lengthy list of accomplishments.  'Steep Steps' features five tracks with an inspired take on McCoy Tyner's 'Inner Glimpse' from 1973 and an equally imaginative take on Tadd Dameron's 'Soultrane' from his 1957 album 'Mating Call'.  As with the covers employed for 'WAW!', Winther, Andersson & Watts pay due homage to each track's lineage but still embrace the opportunity to create within their own distinctive style.

'Pasaj' by Claude Saturne

Claude Saturne makes his formal introduction to the Oioji Records fold with 'Pasaj' which for the percussionist heralds a new era amidst like-minded artists and creatives.

Oioji has thus far delivered in its commitment to bridge music rooted within Caribbean tradition, presenting it to new audiences and new generations.  Throughout the label's slew of spectacular releases including projects by Queen Ci, Eugene Neighbrs and Rickysoul the C3PO, the Oioji brand has continued to grow in its notoriety with its message of spreading the music and culture's lineage permeating to a grander audience.

For Saturne, his mission statement has to be of a similar vein - through a lengthy music career that has seen the artist either record or perform alongside Thurgot Théodat, Jacques Schwarz-Bart and Moonlight Benjamin, Saturne has eschewed pride throughout his creative endeavours, waving the flag for Haitian culture and keeping its values and ideals at the forefront of his "Voodoogroove" music.

Even exploring the litany of videos available via his YouTube channel help to document the vast range of Saturne's impassioned stance towards his music - from the accompaniment of pianist Julie Rozé in their beautiful duo performance of 'Bach to Kreyol' all the way to the high-energy, electronica-infused 'Lanbi' single and its excellent performance-based video.

This wonderful scope of musical styles are also expertly reflected throughout the seven-track 'Pasaj'.  Initially comprised of four original recordings, the EP showcases a platform for Saturne's inspired sonic palette presenting compositions that naturally showcase his penchant for percussive style effects and production which are all employed to help tackle themes from spirituality to community.

But his openness and affections for collaboration further open the floor to a trio of remixes that provide the icing on the cake for the project.  Courtesy of Oioji Records founder As Valet, the Grass Smokers (Cloud & Dusty) and Maxime Genlis, listeners are treated to further inspired and imaginative takes on 'Pasaj' tracks that introduce the Oioji affections for hip-hop and an electronic/house aesthetic. 

Claude Saturne's partnership with Oioji proves such a remarkable fit with 'Pasaj' serving as another sensational project within the Oioji musical make-up.

'Invisible Worker' by yonglee & the DOLTANG

'Invisible Worker' marks the new release from yonglee & the DOLTANG who present a notably imaginative and multi-faceted take on their music.

Released through Unit Records - home to projects by Anissa Damali, Benjamin Koppel and Marton Juhasz - the South Korean quintet have openly declared much of the album's outlook to be rooted within the type of everyday hypocrisy and contradictions that appear to make our world keep spinning.

And there's certainly no shortage of that type of thinking when it comes to us as everyday individuals all the way up to the divisive politics that make each of us lose faith in our political leaders on a daily basis.  What prompts even further somewhat ingenious context to younglee & the DOLTANG's message is in fact how 'Invisible Worker' delivers this very message...

There's something about listening to this album and having its descriptive tags running through your head like "progressive rock", "electronic experimentation" that all seem to play a part in cementing pre-conceived notions of what you expect this music to subsequently sound like - it's actually a technique that ties eloquently into the album's notion of hypocrisy and contradiction.  For that reason, while tags can be an aid in deciphering whether something may or may not be a comfortable fit for a listener before they even press play, it may be fair to say that they can be a detriment as well.

Comprised of five long-time friends, yonglee & the DOLTANG are made up of pianist yonglee, Youngwoo Lee on synths and electronics, Yechan Jo on guitars, Hwansu Kang on bass and Dayeon Seok on drums.  Although this album may serve as their debut, the quintet perform with a comfort that would almost point to this being there fifth album together. 

The album's intro plays up to much of the project's over-arching themes immediately with its almost disjointed harmony - a ghost in the machine, so to speak.  And while tracks throughout 'Invisible Worker' certainly fit the description of the harder and rougher-edged compositions, tracks like 'Fluorescent Light' - aided by an excellent vocal from Song Yi Jeon - present a more playful aesthetic to the band replicating a sublime almost transcendent groove that offsets some of the more unpredictable tracks from the album.  But then a track like 'Pay Day' skilfully captures the album's frenetic nature as it changes pace and tone staying one step ahead of what anyone might expect from the composition. 

'Invisible Worker' marks a self-assured debut from yonglee & the DOLTANG - an album bursting with personality, incredible performances and scintillating energy.  Regardless of whatever you think this is going to sound like, press play and listen to the opposite.

'Live at CXVIII' by Principles of Joy

There's something about soul music as a genre that really forces its artists to earn their stripes on a live stage.  Maybe it's the phenomenon that was James Brown and his revered 'Live at the Apollo' sets that stand as staples for soul music recordings and have cast an impossibly large shadow over generations of artists that have graced stages around the world since.  

Or perhaps it's the fact that there's nowhere to hide.  Centre stage: a vocalist with a mic in their hand, the band primed to create the sonic canvas for the evening, faces in the crowd awaiting their instructions - will they be made to dance 'til the sweat drips down their back or lovingly swoon over lush ballads... or maybe the band won't be able to make the audience do either.

Live music.  For funk and soul bands, performing live is everything.

For contemporary soul music fans, you'll be fully aware that there is no shortage of incredible artists and bands around the world all committed to waving the flag for the genre.  From Hamburg's The Mighty Mocambos, Brighton's Gyratory Allstars, Melbourne's The Putbacks or Brooklyn's Thee Sacred Souls... we are, without doubt, spoilt for choice when it comes to drum-crashing, horn-blasting and groove-riddled new music releases.

And adding to that list of genre-defining contemporary soul music would undoubtedly be the Principles of Joy.  Courtesy of the soul music haven that is Q-Sounds Recordings, the Principles of Joy - from France's Seine Saint-Denis - have genuinely served as front-runners for today's bands.  An impassioned, imaginative and creative unit, the Principles of Joy initially formed in 2017 and were able to create soul music that confidently straddled the sweet spot between soul, blues, funk and northern soul.

Q-Sounds' devotion to their music is one of the most notable aspects of their appeal and what continues to earn them a loyal following.  From the list of Q-Sounds artists including Laura Llorens & The Shadows of Love, The Vogs, Lisa Melissa, The Supertights, amongst others, the live stage has long served as the band's church of sorts.  A place for praise, excitement and celebration... anyone that's ever seen Q-Sounds co-founder and Principles keys player Ludovic Bors enthusiastically crash away on his keys, even going as far as to stand atop the instrument while still playing, will see the unbridled joy the music gives them. 

Vocalist Rachel Yarabou does a sensational job throughout the album's nine tracks.  Her ability to hold court and command proceedings during the blisteringly up-tempo numbers while still being to sweetly serenade during the band's ballads is masterful.  Amongst the Principles treasures that are presented here include 'Girls Be Like' and 'Ablaze' from 'It's Soul That Counts' (2024) and 'God Only Knows' and 'Start From Scratch' from '9-3' (2021).  A few signature covers are expertly executed including the classic 'Your Thing is a Drag' from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and an almost unrecognisable, but absolutely brilliant, '#HoodLove' as originally performed by Jazmine Sullivan.

Principles of Joy prove once again to be an incredibly versatile act - one as comfortable in a studio setting as they are on a live stage and each one is a Joy to behold!

'Hammonday' by DIL Trio

The sound of the iconic Hammond organ calls to mind the great organ trios and performances from its revered 1960s period where names like Brother Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith helped to usher the sound outside of its church roots and subsequently help to evolve the Hammond sound into one of jazz and funk lore.

For a label that enthusiastically champions Italian and European jazz as adeptly as A.MA Records do, it's always refreshing to see them delve into varying facets of the genre and, further, to create a space where their own artists embrace the freedoms afforded to them and their music.

Pianist Irina Pavlovic made her formal introductions to the A.MA audience via her sensational debut, 'The Soulful Heritage', in late-2023.  A beautiful record that demonstrated Pavlovic's immeasurable talents as a composer, performer and band leader but ultimately a record that has proved to showcase just one of what appears to be many sides to her musical make-up.

Swapping the piano for the Hammond organ, 'Hammonday' finds Pavlovic align with guitarist Dušan Petrović and drummer Luka Jovičić under the banner of the DIL Trio to create a record in line with the rich lineage of the instrument - be it within a hard bop aesthetic or one of soul-jazz.

Recorded in Belgrade's Studio Strip in April 2024, the DIL Trio may just be celebrating their debut release but are actually a collective that have been performing together over a five year period.  Arranging their time together through weekly sessions - subsequently entitled "Hammond day" - the trio have cultivated a musical bond that sees them pour so much of their own distinct sounds into the project that, while naturally paying homage to the genre's architects, Petrović, Jovičić & Pavlovic prove just as focused at making their own distinct mark on the music and evolving perceptions beyond traditional expectations for the Hammond sound.

The album opens with 'You Move Me' - a track that initially offers up a familiar swing in its presentation before unleashing some fantastic playing from Dušan Petrović on guitar.  There's a charming slinkiness to 'Spy Walk' that plays neatly into the song's title but then 'Gledaj Pravo' introduces some really captivating energy into the album through an undeniable groove that makes the track's seven minutes just fly by.  While the original version of 'Lights Off' serves as an engaging album highlight, the alternate take supplied as the album's bonus track - featuring trombonist Corey Wilcox - is a real treasure that anyone would be grateful to have included amongst the line-up.

And it's very much these charismatic and personality-driven nuances that is what makes 'Hammonday' such a joyful listen.  With all three musicians helping to create such a warm and intimate project that thrives from these vibrant musical textures, exquisite interplay and sublime compositions, 'Hammonday' proves a decisive win for all involved.

:n-the-m:x | April 2025

Welcome to our monthly mix series with each episode spotlighting 10 tracks that we were particularly excited about across various shows on Blue-in-Green:RADIO. This month showcases a selection providing a near 40-minute excursion from eclectic R&B, some sublime jazz along with some dance and lush electronica selections to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Clean Up' by Royce Wood Junior (First Word)

'Make it Shine' by Lack of Afro featuring Greg Blackman (Bastion Music Group)

'Your Thing is a Drag' (Live at CXVIII) by Principles of Joy (Q-Sounds Recordings)

'Refuge' by Cinephonic (Marlow Records)

'Blood Chapel' (Live at Control) by 7th Sense

'Let Me See' by LaNote (A Night on Canopy)

'Light Rain' by Asta Hiroki featuring okcandice (Folded Music)

'Ondea' by Thoma featuring Muhsinah (Sunday Best)

'Genus' [Socool Remix] by C Circo (Bonk Knob Records)

:n-the-m:x is exclusive to our Mixcloud channel so be sure to check back at the end of every month for future round-ups.