:n-the-m:x | July 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 alt-jazz, sweet soul and nu-disco selections to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Never Be' by Abi Farrell

'Caught Up' by Johnny Burgos (LRK Records)

'Sunny Ocean' by A-tet (Growroom Productions)

'Shango' [BluntOne Remix] (f/t Phat Kat & Guilty Simpson) by Abase (Bridge the Gap)

'Mango' by As Valet (Oioji Records)

'Self-Referential' by Space Travelers Union (Folded Music)

'Jambar' by Afrodream

'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' by Lance Ferguson (Tru Thoughts)

'Viva La Felicita' by Till Bronner (Earmusic 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.

'El Muki' by The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet

The Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet make a fantastic return to form this year through the release of their latest project for Saponegro Records, 'El Muki'.

Spearheaded by trumpeter and band leader Gabriel Alegría, the Afro-Peruvian Sextet are rounded out by saxophonists Laura Andrea Leguía and JF Maza, drummer Hugo Alcázar, bassist Mario Cuba, percussionist Freddy "Huevito" Lobatón and guitarist Jocho Velásquez. 

One of the most prominent revelations about Gabriel Alegría along with the Afro-Peruvian Sextet is the care and devotion that surrounds each member of the band and their subsequent passion towards their craft.  Spending time with any of the Sextet's past nine releases to date - a fact that is particularly evident with 'El Muki' - goes hand-in-hand with the level of responsibility that each of the band's members accept as a participant of the musical collective.  

The Afro-Peruvian Sextet are in essence sound architects; they are guardians of culture and pioneers of untamed musical expression, and there's undoubtedly a large dose of responsibility that comes along with that as a member of the band.  Gabriel Alegría has long strived towards an unhindered vision of the Sextet's music - one that presents an enthralling musical melting pot of contemporary jazz sensibilities alongside Afro-Latino inspiration and a New York aesthetic that teems with improvisational spontaneity. 

Much of Alegría's latest project is rooted within the mythology attached to the "muki".  A character attached to Peruvian and Colombian lore, the muki resembles that of a goblin and intriguingly straddles a thin line between vengefulness and morality.  The former presents a merciless creature who punishes the deceitful while the more romanticised depiction presents a character more fiercely loyal to tradition and to its more sacred environment.  

While esteemed artist Jesús Ruiz Durand explores those concepts for the album's exceptional album cover, it is for Alegría and company to interpret those philosophies in a musical context balancing those fiercely loyal tendencies and presenting themselves as trailblazers of a cultural and sonic frontier in the process.  And while waving the flag for Peruvian heritage is a deftly pivotal concept for the Afro-Peruvian Sextet, ensuring that the purity or artistic and musical traditions are adhered to as well in the face of changing evolving times.  It's no secret the world is entering into a new age in many technological contexts with the human experience towards the culture on the verge of being reduced to simply that of a consumer over that of creators.  While Peruvian traditions are very much at the core of 'El Muki', the potential loss of artistic ones very much are as well.

With 'El Muki', the Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet reaffirm their role as cultural custodians and creative pioneers.  This album isn't just a return to form — it's a resounding statement that innovation and heritage can co-exist generating blissful results.

'Night Watch' by A-tet

This summer is proving to be a real treat for Growroom Productions enthusiasts as the Maryland-based label reassert themselves with some new releases for the year.

Just a month removed from the release of Hyper Battle's 'III', the alternative live electronica aesthetic mixed with a left-of-centre rock sensibility concluded the Dominic Elliott and Lee Durham project in fine fashion, making for a riveting three-part series of enthralling music.

But as one chapter closes, another begins with the release of A-tet's debut release with 'Night Watch'.  Although serving as the group's formal introduction to new listeners around the world, fans of live music around the Washington DC area would have had the opportunity to catch A-tet live as far back as 2018.  Boasting a lengthy residency at the speakeasy jazz bar, 600 T, A-tet have presented their eclectic musical tastes on Thursday nights with a mix of their original compositions alongside, as described via the group's Bandcamp page, "classic and modern straight ahead, funk and hip hop interpretations".  It's certainly an exciting perspective to showcase for an innovative jazz ensemble especially considering the imaginative minds involved in the A-tet quartet.

Comprised of upright bassist and band leader Alex Nowak, guitarist Rob Coleman, drummer Lee Durham and saxophonist Brendan Schnabel, the A-tet quartet is represented by four artists having been immersed in Washington's live music scene for years.  A union cultivated by weekly live performances, the release of 'Night Watch' arrives with great excitement and a fantastic addition to the Growroom catalogue.  A label, and a platform, to celebrate artists of the Washington area, Growroom has proudly embraced a variety of musical genres from funk and soul to alternative electronica and beyond.  Ultimately, the label has cultivated its reputation as a recording home that embraces unique artists and artistry with a story to tell, with releases steeped in sincerity and unhindered in its over-arching design.

A-tet's 'Night Watch' is very much indicative of the Growroom aesthetic.  A four-track release, recorded in March 2024, and with each track penned by a different member of the band.  The eight-minute 'A Living Picture' kicks the project off perfectly displaying a vibrant and infectious enthusiasm before the undeniable sublime groove of 'Teal Blues' kicks in.  'Sunny Ocean' displays the twinges of noir jazz that conjure up those intimate nights of what a performance in 600 T would probably sound like while the effervescent title track reinjects that unpredictability back into the EP.

As A-tet step confidently from the stage to the studio, they not only showcase their individual talents but also reinforce the spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of both their band and the Growroom label. It's a striking debut that captures the atmosphere of their live shows and offers a thoughtful, soulful release that's as much about place and people as it is about sound.

'Immense Love' by The Matthew Rivera Untet

What an absolute joy it is to discover something brand new from Matthew Rivera and Stay the Course Records!

It's been three years since the label last blessed listeners with new music via their Bandcamp page and that sensational outing came from the Rivera-helmed Producer's Workshop Ensemble.  Marking his third release under the Producer's Workshop guise, Rivera uprooted the label's music from the familial gritty soul setting of Chicago and moved it to Japan where he immersed himself amidst the talents of local musicians for a full-length that sat high amidst the label's sublime releases.  Born out of his time in Tokyo in 2020, as the story goes, Rivera assembled a small studio's worth of instruments and recording equipment from visiting second-hand stores and then secured studio time where possible to hone and develop his new sound.

As Stay the Course Records founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Rivera as a one-man band or at the head of an ensemble delivers joyful results with each offering.  Stay the Course has become home to the multitude of Rivera's musical offerings alongside his friends and collaborators including the quintessential dusty analog sound of Linden Troy's soul-drenched singles 'Rise & Shine' and 'Cares of the World', the ecclesiastical 'Rights of Love' by The Jazz Saints of Chicago, and the brilliant multi-faceted Bless The Mad project which paired Rivera alongside Ibrahem Hasan for an album that celebrated 60s psychedelic soul as much as 90s hip-hop and spiritual jazz.

'Immense Love' finds Rivera continuing his adventures in Japan in what appears to be a loving and deeply moving musical ode to his father.  An engaging selection of private messages from his father accompany the Bandcamp description with encouragement in line with the label's own stay the course and persevere mentality.  

With Rivera's immeasurable talents put to good use throughout the record tackling piano, synthesizers, drums, percussion, vibraphone, marimba and flute, Rivera is further backed by now-frequent collaborators in guitarist Tetsuta Otachi and saxophonist Takehide Hashimoto, both returning from the Producer's Workshop Ensemble in Japan project in 2022.  The album's core is rounded out by bassist Ryozo Obayashi and trumpeter Kyotaro Hori along with vocalist ArinMaya who appears on the scene-stealing numbers including 'rain' and 'from'.

'Immense Love' features Rivera's and Stay the Course's signature lo-fi analog textures and in every sense is a heartfelt triumph.  A testament to Rivera's vision and versatility.  Whether you've followed Rivera's journey from the beginning or are just now tuning in, this latest chapter is a reminder of how powerful independent music can be when guided by love, intention and an unshakable creative spirit.

We'll leave you with a few words from Dad himself in one of the further treasures that bolster this whole project...

"Just keep on keepin' on and fuck what motherfuckers say. This is you yo. Body and soul, […] Most cutting edge performance styles were misunderstood and discounted by the so called experts of the time, yet we got Monk, Coletrane and modern art music (which nobody gets).not to mention the myriad musics of the world based on different systems, rhythms, times, scales and harmonies. Just do your thing."

'Collector' by Ramiro Zayas

'Collector' marks the latest release from Argentine pianist and composer Ramiro Zayas whose imaginative new effort proves a definitive and compelling piece of work.

Finding its home on the US label, ears&eyes Records, Zayas' third full-length project perfectly slots into the Chicago-based label's vast and all-encompassing affections for music ranging from contemporary jazz releases that elegantly sit alongside projects under the soul, folk and classical umbrellas.

For Zayas, this free-thinking and unhindered take on modern jazz and music affords the artist a playground that encourages his quest for exploration within his music.  Through each of Zayas' releases to date, the end-results have adeptly straddled the thin space between composition and improvisation with music that relishes its own evolution.  It's an evolution honed through the repetition of performance, collaboration and simply through the reflective passage of time.  There's an impact that a piece of art can leave on you that evolves one's own thinking over time.  Something a person reads at 15 might feel completely different at 50 which provides a profound way of thinking about the art that we consume around us and revisit over the years.

Born in Argentina and now residing in Berlin, Zayas' music has consistently served as a product of its environment.  While his releases to date - which include 'Rio Interior' (2019) and 'Parte del Viaje' (2024) - have adapted to include notable European collaborators, the music has similarly remained true to its Argentine roots.  With upcoming releases with the Basel Jazz Orchestra, the jazz trio Narat and a duo project alongside drummer Juan Ibarra, Zayas continually embraces the art of new collaborative energy and the ability to delve into new musical narratives with each outing.

Featuring an excellent supporting cast that includes Sebastián Greschuk (trumpet), Yossi Itskovich (trombone), Jonathan Acevedo (sax), Baptiste Stanek (sax) and Gianni Narduzzi (double bass), 'Collector' revels in its creative freedoms; its ability to use the space afforded to it as a means of defining its own sound and its own expectations.  

Once again, 'Collector' serves as a project that strikes an inspired balance between music born of the moment and pieces that have previously been conceived by Zayas that all add up to an enriched listening experience.  Eschewed along with a series of well-placed interludes that help to navigate between more spirited, and at times frenetic, pieces there's a sublime contrast in compositions that find a comfortable joy in their solace.

Ramiro Zayas delivers a fantastic project continuing along the incredible lineage of his past releases.  With more music on the horizon, Zayas is cultivating a masterful ability in interweaving compelling narratives into each release and he clearly has many more stories to tell.

'Unforeseen Consequences' by BitMapCrew

Antonio Trinchera's storied career with A.MA Records has seen his music chart a fascinating course over the years.  

Initially introducing himself via the comparatively young label at the time through his 'Next Move' album, the Italian guitarist, musician and composer presented his versatile interpretation of jazz through eclectic production that proudly boasted subtle underlays of electronic influences permeating through the music.  Featuring some excellent vocals from Nikaleo alongside an array of excellent supporting musicians, Trinchera followed up his past releases with Psychonavigation Records with a fantastic album that paid homage to many of his influences.

Originally nurturing his affection for music through a background in classical music, the 'Trinchera sound' soon evolved through exposure to jazz and blues before electronic soundscapes would open the door to a further myriad of musical possibilities.

'Fauves' released in 2022 delved even deeper into Trinchera's compositions that had now confidently found ways to straddle that line between jazz and electronica in many ways celebrating its own duality.

And while Antonio Trinchera can release projects that do find their inspirations from the two disparate musical realms, through his BitMapCrew, Trinchera can present a more unhindered perception of electronic music.  Under the guise of the BitMapCrew, Trinchera, in collaboration with Dario Antonelli, unveiled their four-track EP in 2021 entitled 'Bits of Impressions', a project initially teased through the 'Love Faces' single release in 2021.  'Bits of Impressions' served as a complete reinvention of Trinchera's sound - a project that fully committed to these expansive and bold sonic soundscapes steeped within electronica and seemingly born of a wholly different creative mind from the Trinchera initially introduced back in 2016.  

'Unforeseen Consequences' finds the BitMapCrew aesthetic given the space to fully unleash over the course of the album's nine tracks and 39-minute runtime.  At times frenetic, at times experimental, the soundscapes demonstrate Trinchera both blurring and expanding the boundaries of his own musical identity. 

The album is not just a further step into electronic experimentation, it's a confident statement from an artist unafraid to reinvent and explore without constraint.  Where his solo work often balances tradition and innovation, BitMapCrew allows Trinchera the freedom to fully immerse himself in sonic abstraction.  The result is a body of work that feels both deliberate and unpredictable – a reflection of an artist who, after years of evolution, is still boldly charting new territory.

Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #146: Sunim Koria

Welcome to Episode #146 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which this week sees Imran connect with bassist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Sunim Koria.

It's been four years since we last caught up with the indelibly talented Lutterworth-based artist for an excellent conversation revolving around his debut full-length release 'Ecstasy & The Apple Tree'.  A project that found its inspiration from the late-90s/early-00s broken beat soundscapes typified by luminaries including Deborah Jordan and Kaidi Tatham.  Sunim's latest release sees his music take a completely new direction with a scintillating big band-inspired project featuring seventeen musicians entitled 'Cantata'.  Backed by an excellent lead vocal from Vikki Rose Taylor, 'Cantata' proves an incredible feat and passion project born of Sunim's vast-ranging ability and limitless talent.

We're incredibly grateful for Sunim's time which includes us revisiting 'Ecstasy & The Apple Tree' four years later, discussing the mechanics of putting 'Cantata' together, his affection for Brian Wilson and future musical projects.

To grab your copy of 'Cantata', please feel free to visit the Sunim's Bandcamp page.

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-GreenPODCAST_#146_Sunim Koria

'The Earthy Suites' by Song Yi Jeon

'The Earthy Suites' marks the latest release from vocalist and composer Song Yi Jeon whose new Nonet ensemble finds its formal introduction unveiled in stunning fashion.  

The South Korean-born and Berlin-based Jeon has consistently conveyed inspirational levels of creativity and imagination when it comes to the vast array of music she has helmed over the years.  With each project serving as a conduit of sorts that finds Jeon lovingly tapping into elements of Korea's rich heritage and culture, subsequently recontextualising those ideals for within a contemporary jazz aesthetic.  'The Earthy Suites' serves as something of a pinnacle for Jeon's over-arching ambition as she delivers a project that proudly draws from Korean tradition, percussion, poetry and folklore presenting an elegant tapestry of Korea's rich lineage via her nine-piece ensemble.

For Jeon, 'ambition' seems like an apt way of describing her approach to music.  Never seeking to create the same project twice, she continually embraces the notion of presenting various facets of herself and her music through diverse collaborations and arrangements that help convey the project's respective narrative.  A storyteller at heart, some of Jeon's past releases have found her exquisite vocal soar as part of duo projects like 'Home' (Greenleaf Music, 2022) which saw a collaboration with guitarist Vinicius Gomes while 'Solitary Bloom' from 2024 saw a scintillating collaboration alongside pianist Lorenzo Vitolo and drummer Paulo Almeida drawing subtle inspiration from Brazilian instrumental music.  

As a highly-educated and highly-decorated artist, Song Yi Jeon's commitment to excellence has been honed from her years of international travel and study.  Having studied classical composition at the University of Music and Fine Art in Graz, Austria, and Jazz vocals at the Music Academy in Basel, Switzerland and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Jeon has found herself having graced stages from Korea to Amsterdam to New York, and having performed alongside some jazz luminaries over the years.  

Jeon's current release, 'The Earthy Suites', finds the artist delivering an incredibly bold project worthy of her years of sensational offerings to date.  Comprised of three compositions including the beautiful rendition of the Korean folk song 'Seya Seya' paired alongside two suites totalling nearly thirty combined minutes.  'Suite One' and 'Suite Two' offer up breath-taking depictions of Korean art and history with each composition beautifully paced and elegantly nuanced but set apart by the more impassioned and spirited performances of 'Suite One' juxtaposed with the more transcendent effectuation of 'Suite Two'.

'The Earthy Suites' is a resounding statement of identity, artistry and reverence — a project that not only deepens Song Yi Jeon's already remarkable catalogue but also stands as a testament to the power of cultural storytelling through music.  With a bold compositional voice and a deep-rooted connection to her heritage, Jeon presents a definitive triumph of vision — ambitious in scope, meticulous in execution and deeply human at its core.

Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #145: Holly Holden

Welcome to Episode #145 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which this week sees Imran connect with singer-songwriter, Holly Holden.

As part of Holly Holden y Su Banda alongside Frank Clarke and David Beauchamp, Holly was able to hone her affections for Latin music into some fantastic releases including 'Tropical Soul' (2017) and 'Green Guava' (2020). Her latest project, 'al andar', however sees the London-born artist take the bold step and assume the helm for an album that serves as a powerful and introspective journey shaped by years spent living and writing in Latin America. From Mexico to Colombia, heartbreak to healing, we trace the winding path that brought these songs to life.

We're incredibly grateful for Holly's time for this conversation which sees us discuss her devotion to travel, her time living abroad, the differences in creating music as part of a band and as a solo artist, working with and collaborating with Greg Sanders (Teotima, Lophae) and the upcoming UK performances in support of the new album.

To explore 'al andar' further, please feel free to visit the album's Bandcamp page here.

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-Green:PODCAST_#145_Holly Holden

'IN.SIGHT' by Fabia Mantwill Orchestra

"For me, music is about connection" - it's an earnest and sincere sentiment from Fabia Mantwill whose open-minded approach to her music has opened the door to genuinely inspired results.

Marking the release of her sophomore album - her first with the Michael League-helmed GroundUP Music - 'IN.SIGHT' finds Mantwill's boundless talents leading the charge for her 32-piece orchestra in a sensational follow-up from her debut four years ago.

The Berlin-based saxophonist, composer and vocalist has consistently managed to showcase her broad perspectives when it comes to music appreciation which were instilled into her from a young age as well as through extensive travels and touring that would follow in later years.  The aforementioned debut, 'EM.PERIENCE', was initially conceived as a project to express Mantwill's affection for the diverse cultures and music that she was finding herself exposed to which would ultimately shape her over-arching, all-encompassing sound.

A rapturously-received project, 'IN.SIGHT' finds itself able to build upon those musical ideals in inspired ways within the similarly-minded GroundUP backing.  Everything about Mantwill's ideologies resonate with the GroundUP philosophy - a label that was initially started as the home for the revered Texan fusion outfit Snarky Puppy, it has subsequently housed projects by some incredible names including David Crosby, Becca Stevens and Michelle Willis.  And like many of the GroundUP roster like Snarky Puppy and Forq, the Fabia Mantwill Orchestra embraces the freedom that comes with such an unhindered perspective that embraces her big band sound across varied soundscapes.

Written over the course of the staggeringly short time of 72 hours, Mantwill opened up her collaborative process even further by inviting Snarky Puppy bandleader Michael League and Greek singer, musician and composer Magdalini Giannikou to help shape what 'IN.SIGHT' would become.  And of the 32 wonderful performers enlisted for the project are a few star soloists including Anat Cohen on clarinet, Momi Maiga on kora and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel who each shine amidst their masterful musical backing.  

While it could be an album described as having an ambitious sound, conversely, Mantwill has a way of making its scope seem like the most natural extension of herself.  'IN.SIGHT' isn't an album that is forcing any one sound or an album that is desperately trying to encapsulate a vast array of styles, it's an album that exists to free itself of those confines.  A lovingly crafted project with rich textures, scintillating performances and teaming imagination that once again positions Fabia Mantwill as a force for modern music.