S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Tony Momrelle

Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series continues with the celebration of some of our favourite vocalists.  In support of our selections, we've plucked a snazzy 3-song round-up featuring a mish-mash of under-appreciated collaborations and under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

Tonight focuses on the music of R&B and soul vocalist Tony Momrelle.  Famed for his long-standing collaborations as vocalist for Incognito and frequent collaborator for Reel People, Momrelle's vocal has managed to adapt to a variety of genres and styles solidifying him as an indelible presence within the UK's music landscape.  A prolific tourer and collaborator, Momrelle has graced stages with Sade, Jools Holland, Chaka Khan, Chantae Cann and cultivated a fantastic solo career in his own right with releases dating back to the late-90s.

Here are three Tony Momrelle tracks that no Tony Momrelle collection should be without...

1. 'Love Me Again' [DJ Spinna Remix] by Tony Momrelle (2017)

It's a testament to Tony Momrelle's standing in the business that tracks bearing his vocals have been remixed by a literal who's-who of soulful house and club culture.  With an incredible array of names including Tall Black Guy, Richard Earnshaw, Louie Vega, Terry Hunter, Reel People, amongst others.  It's also a testament to Momrelle's innate ability to sound as snugly comfortable over the organic instrumentation of say Incognito as he does with the aforementioned luminary DJs and producers.  For the purpose of this list however we enthusiastically draw your attention to the wizardry of DJ Spinna and his take on 'Love Me Again'.

2. 'Cada Dia (Day by Day)' by Incognito featuring Tony Momrelle (2002)

It's a staggering achievement in of itself what Incognito founder Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick has managed to do with the band across five decades.  With their first album dropping in 1981 ('Jazz Funk'), Incognito have since notched up in excess of twenty albums and continue to consistently release projects at an incredible rate.  While the band has showcased some fantastic vocalists across the years that have become integral to the Incognito sound like Joy Rose, Imaani, Maysa Leak and Jocelyn Brown, Momrelle's efforts have accompanied Incognito albums for over twenty years with his voice cemented as pivotal to the band's sound and ongoing success.

3. 'It Will Be' by Reel People featuring Tony Momrelle (2007)

While much of Momrelle's story has been intertwined with Incognito for much of his career, similarly, his numerous and extensive collaborations with Reel People certainly couldn't be overlooked.  With Momrelle's seminal solo album 'Keep Pushing' (2015) further housed on Reel People Music, the singer-songwriter has served as one of the musical and production team's chief vocalists across their projects.  Adeptly straddling an eclectic and dynamic soundscape, Reel People have thrived amidst music that borrows the right amounts of R&B, soulful house and dance music that, again, finds Momrelle suitably at home.

:n-the-m:x | January 2026 | blueingreenradio.com

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 40-minute excursion from eclectic and soul-infused jazz and sublime soul to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Keep Him Satisfied' by Tall Black Guy & Zo! featuring Sy Smith

'Deep Dive' by Shane Sato & Box Dreams (Mixto Records)

'You & I' by Les Imprimes (Big Crown)

'I Don't Understand' by MT Jones (EMDM)

'My Paradise' by Deaddream

'Tetra' by Max Kochetov Quartet (A.MA)

'Instant T' by Thierry LeMaitre Quartet (Most Least)

'Downfall' by The Night Service Commute featuring Ash The Author

'Continuation' [Hermanito Remix] by Asta Hiroki (Folded Music)

'Traverse' by Ben Blackadder

: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.

'Foolin' Myself' by Max Kochetov Quartet

"I can't help but wonder if the music I compose is jazz or not.  And also - what is jazz nowadays?"

The above words accompany the latest release from Serbian saxophonist Max Kochetov who celebrates his latest project 'Foolin' Myself' through Italy's A.MA Records.

It's a provocative and somewhat apt assessment of contemporary jazz by today's standards with much of the genre continuing to find new life through artists forging ahead with innovative perspectives that immerse jazz within a range of dynamic genres and styles.  

Much of jazz today certainly boasts a proclivity to incorporate strong elements of hip-hop, electronica and broken beat amidst its expansive soundscapes.  While jazz's ongoing evolution definitively breeds compelling results, there's a fair line of questioning to be had in regards to whether the genre veers too far away from its essence to retain enough of its core sensibilities; conversely, the question can be asked whether an artist can be considered progressive if they aren't embracing more contemporary styles like the aforementioned examples?

It's a fascinating concept to employ as a springboard for a new project and one that Kochetov tackles with sensitivity and confidence.  

And setting challenges for albums certainly does fit within Kochetov's modus operandi.  For his 2022 debut with A.MA, 'Altered Feelings' featured the saxophonist and band leader presenting a 42-minute suite of tracks that were split over eight compositions and recorded live, in one take.  A fantastic album that brilliantly established Kochetov's scope and ambition for his music going forward - an ideology revisited for his overdue follow-up.

A slightly evolved quartet line-up feature throughout 'Foolin' Myself' with Kochetov's saxophone finding inspired support from double-bassist Hugo Lof, the returning Milos Grbatinic on drums and A.MA label-mate pianist Katarina Kochetova who delivered an excellent album herself with 'Beyond Motion' in 2024.  A selection of special guests feature throughout on horn duties including Fabrizio Bosso, Alex Sipiagin and Samuel Blaser and another A.MA stalwart features in the form of trumpeter Ivan Radivojevic who guests on 'Mood'. 

For 'Foolin' Myself', Kochetov has raised the bar significantly and delivered a sensational offering.  From the urgency captured in 'Tetra', the intricacy of 'Fusion Flow' and the intimacy of 'Silence', each composition is indicative of Kochetov examining his place within jazz's contemporary landscape.

The opening words to this article convey a mild uncertainty that Max Kochetov may harbour within himself but the music throughout 'Foolin' Myself' is conceived and performed with such passion and self-confidence that it's hard to imagine Kochetov truly doubting himself.  What jazz is nowadays will vary for different people but perhaps what is of most value isn't being able to answer the question - it's found in asking it.  

S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with N'Dea Davenport

Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series continues with the celebration of some of our favourite vocalists.  In support of our selections, we've plucked a snazzy 3-song round-up featuring a mish-mash of under-appreciated collaborations and under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

Tonight focuses on the American acid jazz icon that is N'Dea Davenport.  Perhaps best known for her incredible catalogue alongside The Brand New Heavies in the 90s which spawned the hits 'Dream on Dreamer' and 'Midnight at the Oasis', N'dea's solo career flourished in that time further culminating with the release of her self-titled debut album in 1998.  From there, N'dea would continue collaborations with the Brand New Heavies as well as solidifying herself as an incredibly versatile and prolific artist and collaborator.

With a multitude of collaborations with some incredible names, N'Dea's captivating vocal has graced projects alongside DJ Spinna, Sly & Robbie, DJ Deckstream, Wax Poetics, Fred Everything, Everlast amongst many more.

Here are three N'dea Davenport tracks that no N'Dea Davenport collection should be without...

1. 'Deep into Sunshine' by Shuya Okino featuring N'Dea Davenport (2011)

Shuya Okino's 'Destiny' album came amidst a whirlwind of excitement upon its release.  Superseded by the disco-esque 'Still in Love' - an excellent production that boasts a delicious jazz break near the song's climax - the eleven track album proved a triumph for one-half of the revered Kyoto Jazz Massive duo.  Featuring some excellent vocalists across the project including Divinti, Pete Simpson and Clara Hill, N'Dea's three track appearances prove a dream match helping to make the album a defining project for Shuya Okino.  Fans of the CD version of the album further delighted in the elegant matt laminate version of the casing giving another reason to cherish this record.

2. 'Don't Push Your Luck' by [re:jazz] featuring N'Dea Davenport (2012)

Nu-jazz heroes, [re:jazz], delivered something of a reinvention of their sound with the release of 2012's 'Kaleidoscope'.  Featuring acclaimed Jazzanova producer, Axel Reinemer, the band executed a subtle shift towards honing their own compositions while still suavely occupying that tantalising no-man's land between electronic and acoustic jazz.  A fantastic album boasting some of the best music bearing the [re:jazz] brand, the album kicks off in vibrant fashion with N'Dea Davenport guesting on the up-tempo, acid jazz-like 'Don't Push Your Luck'.

3. 'Trust Me' by Guru featuring N'Dea Davenport (1993)

Amongst the litany of 1990s gems that help define N'Dea Davenport's esteemed catalogue, is the wonderful collaboration with Gang Starr rapper Guru.  For his first foray into a solo endeavour, Guru sought to rewrite the 90s jazz-rap blueprint and in a bid to evolve the script, instead of sampling classics by jazz greats like Horace Silver and Bobby Hutcherson (a technique that made icons of Gang Starr and A Tribe Called Quest), the rapper opted to collaborate with them for a project instead.  Thus the Jazzmatazz series was born.  Enlisting luminaries like Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith, Guru crafted a 90s masterpiece with this treasure.  Appearing on two tracks for the album, the great N'Dea Davenport guests on 'Trust Me' and delivers a real standout for the album.

'Vital Spark' by Dave Holland, Norma Winstone & London Vocal Project

Kenny Wheeler's ability to perform music in a variety of settings and ensembles is part of what helped to establish his indelible musical legacy.  A keen improviser, the Canadian-born trumpeter was as adept within intimate trio arrangements as he was heading up vibrant big bad ensembles and orchestras.  

Always noted for his modest and self-effacing perception of his own contributions, Wheeler was also known to have a real affection for "sad" music often citing some of his heroes like Miles Davis and Billie Holiday as knowing how best to tap into that distinct quality within their compositions: "Everything I do has a touch of melancholy and a touch of chaos to it."

It's that profound interpretation of Wheeler's music that enables a project like 'Vital Spark' to come to be realised in such exquisite fashion.

Spearheaded by the revered Dave Holland and the esteemed Norma Winstone, 'Vital Spark' is an incredible conceptualizing of Kenny Wheeler's final compositions that, frankly, couldn't have been left to more competent hands.

Long displaying a like-minded approach to that of Wheeler's, Dave Holland's open-minded perspectives to jazz and composition has seen the bassist and band leader soar over a career that dates back to the early-1970s.  The UK-born and US-based artist has cultivated an illustrious legacy across a multitude of his own releases and collaborations that have seen him perform alongside generational luminaries including Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Billy Hart and Nate Smith.

With ties to Wheeler by way of their 1970s trio Azimuth (which included pianist John Taylor), vocalist Norma Winstone further helps to breathe sensational life into 'Vital Spark'.  A highly-decorated artist in her own right, Winstone boasts a catalogue of equal reverence having initially established her style through a wordless, improvisation-heavy approach.

And then of course we have the London Vocal Project headed up by director Pete Churchill and featuring more than twenty vocalists as part of the expansive choir who sound sublime over the lush accompaniment of Nikki Iles on piano, James Maddren on drums, Mark Lockheart on saxes and John Parricelli guitar.

'Vital Spark' serves as a fascinating musical gumbo of inspired collaborators that have each forged their own path as highly respected and sought after names but, collectively, tap into something incredibly special with the spirit of Kenny Wheeler looming affectionately over the project.  

Across the album's nine compositions, we're treated to ethereal performances that leave something of a visceral imprint by the album's completion: to what would perhaps be Wheeler's delight, 'Vital Spark' connects as music that oftentimes resonates as being incredibly sad.  But therein lies the brilliance of the project, as collectively, Holland and company - in creating an album of celebration - are able to find the joy in that very lament.

S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Jill Scott

As Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series commences, celebrating the efforts of some of our favourite vocalists, we thought we'd take a little extra time and prepare a 3-song round-up of some of our favourite under-appreciated collaborations or under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

We begin tonight celebrating the music of Philadelphia treasure Jill Scott.  With the release of her sixth studio album due February 2026 - her first in over ten years - Scott's status as contemporary and neo-soul icon has never wavered.  Since wow'ing with her penmanship for The Roots' Grammy-winning 'You Got Me' in 1999 to the release of her flawless and timeless debut full-length in 'Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1' the following year, Scott has consistently delivered as an artist that stood tall amongst a genre that was never short on its own luminaries.

Aside from the list of full-length albums, there's an extensive list of collaborations, live recordings, remixes and b-sides to Scott's name which have helped her to cultivate an incredible catalogue of music over the years.  While certain collaborations with The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Common and Robert Glasper Experiment may be well-known, we'll try to put you on to a few things that you may not have been aware of.

Here are three Jill Scott tracks that no Jill Scott collection should be without...

1. 'Dreamin'' by Jill Scott (1999)

Serving as very possibly the first Jill Scott song many listeners would have stumbled upon, this definitive gem was housed on the soundtrack to the LL Cool J and Omar Epps film, 'In Too Deep' from 1999.  An excellent compilation in its own right with contributions from Redman & Method Man, Nas, Mobb Deep and Jagged Edge, this super jazzy and understated number from Scott will ensnare you immediately.  Disappointingly, it's a track that didn't find its way to her debut in 2000 but it set the scene perfectly for the incredible ambition and scope that the album would aim for.

2. 'To Be We' by Theo Croker featuring Jill Scott (2022)

Trumpeter Theo Croker's 'Love Quantum' album certainly boasted a guest-heavy affair with some typically exceptional names included like Chris Dave, Kassa Overall, Wyclef Jean and Gary Bartz.  The wonderful inclusion of Scott in the line-up helped to deliver another fantastic release for Croker - the dreamy, slightly trippy soundscape finds Scott soaring as she delivers a typically outstanding vocal interspersed with moments of her spoken word brilliance.

3. 'All I Do' [Jeremias Santiago's FTL Rework] by Jill Scott (2019) 

Any music fan with an internet connection will be aware of the inconceivable amount of remixes that DJs, producers and bedroom DJs alike will have unveiled expressing their affection for Jill Scott's music.  And while there are a litany of remixes that adorn Bandcamp including takes on tracks by Makèz, DJ Kwamzy and Freddie Joachim, we wanted to show love to New York's Jeremias Santiago and his remix of Scott's 'All I'.  Originally housed on 'The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3', under the title 'All I', the lush R&B number is transformed into a soulful house gem that reimagines the track wonderfully but still manages to remain Scott's warmth and intimacy.

'FAMILIA' by Ramiro Zayas & Basel Jazz Orchestra

'FAMILIA' marks the latest release from Ramiro Zayas which excitingly finds the pianist performing alongside the Basel Jazz Orchestra for their full-length release.

With the album having been released at the conclusion of 2025, last year would prove to be an exceptionally busy and productive period for the Argentinian-born and Berlin-based musician and composer.  We had previously marvelled at Zayas' 'Collector' album upon its release - a project serving as his third full-length and a stunning effort that embraced a sublime balance of improvisation intertwined with imaginative composition.

Each new release from Zayas consistently bears the responsibility of regaling a new narrative attached to the project: the opportunity to continually embrace the art of new collaborative energy never seems to be lost on Zayas and is a genuinely compelling quality within an artist who places such reverence on their music.  'Surin' would follow almost immediately and would find Zayas partnering with drummer Juan Ibarra for a wonderful release aptly described on Bandcamp as blending "Uruguayan and Argentine folk rhythms with the influence of modern jazz".  

'FAMILIA' finds Zayas once again recontextualising listener expectations by tackling perhaps his most ambitious project to date in his collaboration with the eighteen-person Basel Jazz Orchestra.  Comprised of musicians from various international backgrounds and artists immersed within Basel's jazz landscape, the pairing generates some enthralling results throughout the album.

It is a collaboration however that poses something of a delicious dichotomy of styles and approaches to music-making.  The freedom of live improvisation that Zayas has openly embraced on past projects would in theory appear to work in stark contrast to the structure of an expansive ensemble but – unsurprisingly – Zayas and company strike the balance with formidable success.

With Zayas tackling the album's writing and arrangements, the boundlessly versatile artist once again finds a way to thrive across the album's eight compositions.  With sensational backing from the Basel Jazz Orchestra, the collective introduce a fantastic new dimension to Zayas' music making the path from 'Collector' to 'Surin' to 'FAMILIA' an engrossing journey.  Alongside the fantastic musical accompaniment, special mention should go to vocalist Joyce Bastos who blesses 'Autopsicografia' with an exquisite performance.

Through the release of 'FAMILIA', Ramiro Zayas has really tested himself and presented an outstanding release worthy of his ever-expanding catalogue.  Perhaps even more pertinent than that however is that 'FAMILIA' is evident that, for Zayas, the journey continues with more stories to tell.

'Completely Deep Patterns' by Deep Patterns

Bristol-based musician and producer Ben Dubuisson has long displayed compelling almost-chameleonic qualities that find him immersed within a variety of different genres and styles across the expansive array of projects he has unveiled over the years.

With High Noon Music serving as his enthralling musical playground, Dubuisson first introduced himself under the guise of Hundred Strong and through a 2010 album release entitled 'Stylin Free'.  The album's varied and dynamic productions paired Dubuisson's hip-hop-inspired backdrops alongside some excellent vocalists including Pete Simpson, Holly Backler, J. Malik and featuring no less than three vocal contributions from the dearly-departed Detroit hero, Amp Fiddler. 

Dubuisson has continued to present his vision for contemporary soul and R&B through further Hundred Strong albums, EPs and singles as well as through further High Noon projects... his dynamic production for scintillating Glaswegian vocalist Kali Phoenix helped create an enthralling debut in 'Voices' (2016) - chemistry recreated for the 2024 standalone Phoenix single 'Where's Love' which also makes a compulsory purchase and teases further releases...

And then there's the brilliant pairing of Dubuisson alongside Florida-based singer-songwriter Jay Myztroh for the collaborative Cosmic Link release.  The self-titled full-length from 2023 generated some lush R&B, neo- and future-soul gems, paying homage to a classic era of R&B while still displaying enough imagination to create new avenues.

Across the breadth of projects bearing the name "Ben Dubuisson", Deep Patterns seems to present all-new facets to his already vast repertoire.  Through the guise's debut offering, 'Completely Deep Patterns' finds Dubuisson tackling production, beats, drums and keys while a further fifteen musicians are enlisted to help elevate the project to even greater heights.  Perhaps Dubuisson's largest scale all-round production but a challenge he embraces with enthusiasm almost making the daunting task seem easy.

'Completely Deep Patterns' finds an inspired recontextualising of Dubuisson's music to date.  While still boasting elements of the hip-hop and soul that are synonymous with his music so far, the album embraces a range of additional influences from jazz to cinematic soul soundscapes which, on several tracks, are further enhanced by the presence of The Epoch House Choir who soar on tracks like 'Remember the Time', 'Thirteen' and 'The World is Just the Way That it is'.  

An album that is nothing short of a triumph, Deep Patterns is indicative of its architect's boundless talents and fascinating vision.

'CREAM' by Kassa Overall

Serving as his fourth full-length album, 'CREAM' finds Kassa Overall in celebratory form as he lovingly whittles through a selection of eight golden era hip-hop classics to reimagine them within his own inimitable style.

Since his independently-released debut full-length came in the form of the brilliantly titled 'Go Get Ice Cream & Listen to Jazz' in 2019, the Seattle native has become something of a tour de force.  Backed by some incredible guests, including trumpeters Theo Croker and Roy Hargrove, the drummer, rapper, DJ and producer delivered a genuinely stunning effort unveiling his unique concoction of hip-hop inspired jazz which was able to serve as an inspired showcase for the multi-faceted approach to his music.  

Since then, whether he's providing rap verses for Emma-Jean Thackray, drumming on albums for Gary Bartz and Theo Croker, rocking the turntables for Terri Lyne Carrington's Social Science or remixing for Cecile McLorin Salvant and Sly5thAve, there's an enticing unpredictability to Kassa Overall that consistently positions him ahead of what anyone may expect of him.  With wonderfully off-kilter production that ushers in his sublime and dusty drum patterns, rich piano keys, lush horns... all aspects of his music paint this picture that you can't help but become immersed within. 

'CREAM' may very well subvert listeners' expectations of Kassa Overall's music once again as he tips his hat to a massive part of his own musical make-up and inspirations through his revisiting of timeless hip-hop classics.  While many of the songs covered will be instantly recognisable to even the most casual of 90s rap fans - including Notorious BIG's 'Big Poppa' and Wu-Tang Clan's 'C.R.E.A.M.' - it's the approach Overall employs which proves to be the most compelling aspect of the album... 

There's a very distinctive melancholy to Overall's music which has proved evident in both the production and subject matter of past releases.  While he has used his songs to tackle broader societal issues from the prison system, government distrust and more personal matters of self-doubt and loss, even an album that is undeniably joyous in its make-up like 'CREAM' finds Overall peeling through layers to unravel more depth and narrative.  The Dr Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg West Coast classic 'Nuthin But A "G" Thang' is recontextualised through a decidedly more introspective lens, for example, while the Juvenile hit 'Back That Azz Up' - perhaps the most surprising inclusion amongst the line-up - is again treated to a considerably more thoughtful reimagining.

Conversely, OutKast's 'Spottieottiedopaliscious' side-steps the original's laid-back and chilled approach in this case opting for a remarkable and more feverous jazz workout. 

Hip-hop and jazz's intrinsic - and cyclical - relationship has generated captivating projects for nearly five decades now.  From the jazz records that helped birth golden era classics for A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr - projects that would ultimately inspire a new generation of hip-hop artistry that would become as influenced by hip-hop as much as the sampled jazz artists like Roy Ayers and Donald Byrd that had formed the backbone of the productions - all the way to albums like Kassa Overall's 'CREAM' that serve as dutiful full circle moments.

If you're reading this and have never purchased a project by Kassa Overall then you are doing yourself a disservice.  Few artists display the unbridled imagination that Overall is able to showcase through each and every-thing he turns his hand to so if you haven't jumped on the Kassa train yet, then this ode to hip-hop classics is as good a place to start as anything.  The ice-cream is optional.