S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Raheem DeVaughn

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 the indelible "R&B hippie neo-soul rock star", Raheem DeVaughn.  Debuting through Jive Records for his first two album releases, 'The Love Experience' and 'Love Behind the Melody' (2008), DeVaughn asserted not just a signature sound but an incredible work ethic that saw him as a consistent performer and staple collaborator for artists including Kev Brown, Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, Guru, T-Pain, Ghostface Killah, among countless others.  With three Grammy nominations to his name and eleven solo albums, DeVaughn's established and distinctive sound that positions his inimitable voice alongside production that’s heavily inspired by old school aesthetics but still a showcase for a progressive and contemporary R&B sound.

Here are three Raheem DeVaughn tracks that no Raheem DeVaughn collection should be without...

1. 'I Would Die 4 U' by Raheem DeVaughn (2010)

The Prince classic originally housed on 'Purple Rain' gets a wonderful transformation from the infectious, hi-energy and synth-heavy number we all know and love.  With DeVaughn's cover available through his Bandcamp page, and dating back to 2010, we're treated to a near five-minute, more soulful and organic-sounding rendition with a live band in tow as well.  Easily a Raheem gem that may have slipped by a lot of people, this fantastic take on one of Prince's most beloved tracks is quite brilliantly reinterpreted.  It's a shame this version didn't make its way to any of DeVaughn's albums but it's one not to miss.

2. 'My Soul Ain't for Sale' by DJ Jazzy Jeff featuring Raheem DeVaughn (2007)

DJ Jazzy Jeff has a lengthy lineage of tracks alongside Raheem DeVaughn.  As one of the leading contributors for Jeff's debut solo full-length in 'The Magnificent' - with DeVaughn providing vocals for three of the album's tracks as well as jumping on the remix for 'For Da Love Of Da Game' - it was only fitting that the singer-songwriter would return for the follow-up album 'The Return of The Magnificent'.  Marking an excellent follow-up which paired Jeff alongside heavy-hitters including Method Man, CL Smooth and J-Live, it was the DeVaughn collaboration for 'My Soul Ain't for Sale' that was the album's definitive highlight.  Sampling Bobby Caldwell's 'What You Won't Do for Love' to fantastic effect, DeVaughn oozes charisma over fantastic production.

3. 'It's Your World' [Extended Mix] by Brian Jackson & Masters at Work featuring Raheem DeVaughn & J Ivy (2025)

The latest release from revered drummer Brian Jackson, due out on BBE Records this year, has boasted an incredible roll-out so far.  Preceded by two essential EPs, Jackson's too-good-to-be-true pairing alongside the Masters at Work duo of Kenny Dope and Louie Vega looks set to unveil one of the year's best releases.  Billed as a double-disc release and featuring nineteen tracks, Brian Jackson's 'Now More Than Ever' features an inspired guest list including Black Thought, Omar, Rahsaan Patterson and of course Raheem DeVaughn.  The album version of 'It's Your World' comes in at a whopping seven+ minutes but the single/extended mix clocks at an even more whopping eleven+ minutes so absolutely be sure to check for the extended version, particularly for the completists amongst you.

'The Art of Deep Connection' by Omar Ríos Meléndez and Alex Wilson

The late, great vibraphonist and bandleader Roy Ayers once said "The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers."

It's an inspired - and somewhat humble - assessment of music and of the artist's own place within the delivery of that message but fascinatingly the latest release from Alex Wilson and Omar Ríos Meléndez offers up the idea that in some cases the message itself may not be the most prevalent aspect of the project.  Sometimes the conversation - the real-time musical negotiation of thoughts and ideas - can serve as the basis for a project's over-arching meaning.

Through the release of the duo's debut album, 'The Art of Deep Connection', the music in this case may not be carrying the message as Ayers suggests but perhaps shaping or even constructing it as we delve deeper into the album's ten exquisite tracks.

Incredibly, 'The Art of Deep Connection' marks the first full-length release from pianist Alex Wilson and guitarist Omar Ríos Meléndez.  Having only first played together in 2021, the kinship they discovered for each other as performers was instant and thankfully embraced leading to the release of their first, hopefully of many, collaborative efforts.

And as far as collaborators within the Latin jazz tradition go, few can serve as accomplished or experienced as much as the Zurich-based Wilson.  With nine albums to his name, the pianist can further boast collaborations dating back to the 1990s with work alongside Courtney Pine, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masakela, Jocelyn Brown and Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Wilson's far-reaching affection for a variety of musical genres and styles is similarly echoed by Ríos Meléndez who also thrives within the fields of flamenco, jazz, fusion and Latin stylings.  Now based in London, Ríos Meléndez has graced stages across the world in a career spanning nearly two decades clocking up performances in the US, Colombia, Belgium, Costa Rica and his native Nicaragua. 

'The Art of Deep Connection' proves not only a scintillating exchange between Ríos Meléndez's guitar and Wilson's piano but also a project indicative of each's values and extensive musical make-up.  Featuring a mix of covers and newly-composed pieces, the album proves a definitively joyous experience: a suitably enlightened take on 'La Mora Limpia' kicks the album off in vibrant fashion, followed by arguably the album's brightest moment in the deeply infectious perspective on Luis Enrique's salsa gem, 'Yo No Sé Mañana'.  There's something of an added treat in that each artist affords themselves the luxury of a solo offering on the album -  'Bésame Mucho' for Wilson and 'Water Reflections' for Ríos Meléndez - both sublimely performed highlighting the proficiency of each artist in elegant fashion.

If we further consider Ayers' opening perspective that the musicians are merely conduits in delivering the message then 'The Art of Deep Connection' boldly proposes that perhaps the message can be born of the interaction itself.  While having something to say is undoubtedly a gift, having someone to say it with can be all the more meaningful.

New Music round-UP

'My Brain Feels So Good' by CommsBreakdown + Socool

We never seem to have long to wait before we find ourselves gushing over new music from Emily "Socool" Sobool.  Always seeming to cater to her prolific music-making tendencies, Socool unveils a fantastically imaginative collaboration with like-minded producer, Steve "CommsBreakdown" Ash in 'My Brain Feels So Good'.

As a writer, drum & bass artist, producer and, if the rumours are to be believed - "eater of chocolate" - Ash's CommsBreakdown moniker has only been functioning since 2024 but he has managed to release a vast array of music in that time spanning the electronic realms of drum & bass to ambient downtempo.

Ash's efforts surely make him a kindred spirit when considering the consistently high quality output of Socool's offerings over the last few years.  From an incredible and sublime full-length last year in 'To the Nines' to a vast array of nuanced and dreamy productions comprising collaborations, standalone singles, remixes and EPs.

Stemming from conversations between the two regarding the use of guitars within electronic music, a jam session by Ash strumming away became the catalyst for each artist to adapt the recordings into their own styles accordingly.  Serving as an inspired concept, the end-result gifts listeners two sensational mixes that give credence to the guitar in electronic music concept.

'Certain Sevens Vol 1' by The Night Service Commute

The incredible efforts of the enigmatic producer and DJ, Tommy Willetts, had previously made his formal introductions via his incredible project, 'In Transit', from 2023.  Released through the UK's Certain Sounds Records, the hip-hop-meets-jazz aesthetic of Willetts' nine-track opus garnered itself buckets of well-deserved praise and elevated his Night Service Commute alter-ego to enthusiastic listeners.  As part of Certain Sounds' new Certain Sevens series, the project is kicked off with an immaculate two-track release from Willetts, once again donning the Night Service Commute cowl.

Released as a limited edition lathe cut 7" vinyl, Willetts' hip-hop tendencies are given a broader scope here while still managing to effortlessly retain the jazz influence that endeared 'In Transit' to so many.

'Downfall', featuring Ash the Author, captures a moody golden era boom-bap soundscape that is divine while the spoken word delivery from Louie G for 'Halfspeed' makes itself fittingly at home against the haunting and mildly trippy production.  Brilliant.

'Keeping the Faith Alive in 2025' by The JoGo Project

Founded by Elijah Jamal Balbed, The JoGo Project continue with their relatively new partnership with Honest Lee's Growroom Productions.  Initially commemorating their union with the infectious feel-good anthem '(That) JoGo Groove' in 2024 - the featuring the esteemed trombone of Greg Boyer - Balbed and company would go on to round out 2025 with the truly incredible three-track release 'Keeping the Faith Alive in 2025'.  At the time though, listeners hadn't realised that the EP would become an evolving project with a further two tracks being included amidst the EP's expanded edition.

Through live performances and new music releases, Growroom have long had their finger on the pulse of funk & soul when it comes to Washington-based artists.  With a range of incredible music - often serving as a showcase for both new and established talent - JoGo's inclusion amidst the Growroom roster continues to deliver thrilling results.  From the all-out funk of 'The Real Project 2025' to the EP's new additions which include soul-drenched reinterpretations of soul music classics.  Bill Withers' 'Lovely Day' and Stevie Wonder's 'Creepin'' receive heartfelt renditions featuring lots of band solos and with an excellent lead vocal from Desiree Jordan.

'Blue Hour' by RETI

The debut full-length from singer, songwriter and violinist Reti Ann Niimann comes courtesy of the Estonian recording hub of Funk Embassy Records.  A label that showcases an intriguing array of powerhouse vocalists and bands that exude just the right doses of contemporary R&B elegantly mixed with 70s-era disco and early-80s soul.  Much like RETI's debut, it's a concoction that pays loving homage to a quintessential period in soul music's lineage but cleverly includes enough charisma and personality to showcase herself as an artist forging her own path.

Spearheaded by the lead single 'Shake' in early 2025, the nine tracks comprising 'Blue Hour' brilliantly present the whole album as events taking place during a single night out.  It's a great concept and while many would perhaps interpret the theme as an album full of dancefloor-centric, joyous numbers, 'Blue Hour' opens with a track charting the need for escapism.  It's a nuance that runs through much of 'Blue Hour' whereby up-tempo tracks are skilfully tinged with tales of heartbreak, loneliness and regret.  Boasting a fantastic vocal and some excellent production, courtesy of Martin Laksberg, RETI presents a definitive standout for Funk Embassy and a statement of intent for herself going forward.

S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Leona Berlin

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 singer-songwriter, Leona Berlin.  With her debut full-length released in 2018, Berlin has continued to depict a bold and innovative vision of R&B and neo-soul.  With the independent releases of 'Change' (2021) and 'ELEVATE' (2025), Berlin's Berlin's music has consistently touted the benefits of individuality, self-awareness and self-confidence and the importance of those values as a starting point to move forward.  Whether it be earlier single releases including 'Cage', 'Feminine Energy' or more recent efforts with 'Jealousy', Berlin has consistently created statements of anthemic impact that continue to position her as the benchmark for today's R&B and neo-soul artists.

Here are three Leona Berlin tracks that no Leona Berlin collection should be without...

1. 'Floating Freely' by Magro featuring Leona Berlin (2019)

With Magro having served as a co-producer and drummer for each of Leona Berlin's three releases to date - and Berlin having guested on several Magro tracks over the years - the duo's music has been intrinsically intertwined since they each debuted.  While each of Leona's appearances on Magro releases are scene-stealing turns, for the purposes of this list, we'll turn your attention to the standalone single release, 'Floating Freely'.  It's a wonderful track that embraces a clear neo-soul aesthetic but still teases enough of the drummer/producer's more off-kilter and eclectic tendencies.

2. 'High Life' by Leona Berlin featuring Sedric Perry (2021)

Released as a standalone single in the run-up to Berlin's sophomore album 'Change', inexplicably this gem didn't find its way onto the actual album.  Featuring US vocalist Sedric Perry, the track further features an excellent video with Berlin's sister in the role of the waitress.  A wonderful track brilliantly capturing Berlin's penchant for warmly-produced, effervescent R&B/neo-soul soundscapes and an excellent pre-cursor to the styles indicative of 'Change' that would follow that year.

3. 'Thinking About You' by Leona Berlin featuring Replife & Casey Benjamin (2018)

Heading back to Berlin's self-titled debut album for this one which features an incredible dream team of US rapper Replife alongside the late, great saxophonist Casey Benjamin.  Leona Berlin has long been an artist that totally invests in the visuals of her music as her projects have progressed - third album 'ELEVATE' can nearly lay claim to having a video for nearly every one of the album's tracks which is incredibly ambitious.  The video for 'Thinking About You' certainly conveys one of her best as the track is accompanied by visuals depicting a notably trippy take of the city late at night.

'Pressure Heat Space & Time' by LaNote

The latest release from vocalist and producer Caroline "LaNote" Marks represents a milestone moment within her ongoing evolution as an artist.  And the word 'evolution' always seems like a pertinent term when assessing the artist's music releases to date.

From the hip-hop-meets-soul backdrop of the As Valet-produced 'Rebirth' to the eclectic beat-tape soundscape of 'The Nola Clarks Xprmt' to the deliciously trippy journey chartered throughout last year's 'Astronote Rainbow'.

Much like we had previously described 'Astronote Rainbow' as being a somewhat Alice in Wonderland excursion that draws our protagonist further into the rabbit hole, a broader assessment of LaNote's music, spanning the full range of her releases, could very much be considered along the same lines.  It's the definition of a bold and immersive evolutionary experience that listeners have been invited on since her debut release.

In 2026, LaNote's journey is commemorated through 'Pressure Heat Space & Time'; a nine-track project that finds the artist presenting a notably lush selection of nu-soul-inspired R&B compositions each boasting warm - almost intimate - production that LaNote snugly settles into.  With a vocal tailor-made for these dreamy backdrops, LaNote's smoky and laid-back style ushers the project into chillout territory while still managing to convey enough of LaNote's charm and charisma throughout.

As past projects have proven however, there is little, production-wise, that LaNote wouldn't be able to make her own - from hip-hop beat-tape stylings to more visceral electronic backdrops, LaNote's deft versatility always shines right through.

With past album releases through Futuristica Music, Laissedoudis Records and A Night on Canopy, 'Pressure Heat Space & Time' finds its home in the increasingly hallowed walls of Oioji Records.  With a fantastic year of releases in 2025 courtesy of Kistor Beating Drums, Gus La Tempête, As Valet and Claude Saturne, 2026 is spearheaded by this fantastic project which - in signature Oioji Records fashion - further boasts scene-stealing album artwork courtesy of Régine Lanoir.  

With a deliciously evocative title that suggests that the album itself is a product of a litany of extenuating circumstances - be them personal, societal or global - like a diamond, the album is also proof that from such extremities something incredible can subsequently be born as well.

S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Esperanza Spalding

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 bassist, band leader and singer-songwriter, Esperanza Spalding.  Since her debut album release in 2006, the Grammy-winning artist has gone on to solidify herself as one of the genre's premier names in contemporary jazz.  Through releases on Heads UP and Concord, Spalding has amassed ten full-length albums as well as extensive collaborations with names including Wayne Shorter, Karriem Riggins and Nicholas Payton.  Always seeking to create music that draws from a deeper well of inspiration, Spalding's expansive catalogue freely flits between Latin jazz to funk-rock to R&B consistently displaying such mastery at each turn and proving her indelible worth to today's jazz landscape.

Here are three Esperanza Spalding tracks that no Esperanza Spalding collection should be without...

1. 'Why We Speak' by Robert Glasper featuring Esperanza Spalding & Q-Tip (2022)

The third of Robert Glasper's 'Black Radio' trilogy maintained the pianist's penchant for big name guests including Gregory Porter, Lalah Hathaway and Jennifer Hudson.  A wonderful entry into the series, 'Black Radio III' showcased some outstanding tracks perhaps best spearheaded by this gem which unites the colossal names of Glasper, Esperanza Spalding and Q-Tip.  A trio with a lengthy lineage between them - Q-Tip having produced on Spalding's 'Radio Music Society' album, Glasper having appeared on Tip's 'The Renaissance', and Glasper and Spalding having performed and recorded together on a multitude of tracks - 'Why We Speak' served as a dream collaboration that delivers in every way.

2. 'Freesia' by Nicholas Payton featuring Esperanza Spalding (2011)

Although the trumpeter Nicholas Payton boasts the distinction of featuring Spalding as a member of his trio - alongside drummer Karriem Riggins - for his album 'Triune' in 2025, he also had the pleasure of showcasing the vocalist on the track 'Freesia'.  Housed on Payton's album 'Bitches' from 2011, the album served as his foray into R&B with Payton himself tackling the bulk of the album's vocals but still managing to feature an incredible list of featured artists including Saunders Sermons, Cassandra Wilson, N'Dambi and Chinah Blac.  Spalding's appearance on 'Freesia' undoubtedly delivers a strong album highlight and provides another entry into the collaborators' extensive collection of music together.

3. 'Dawn' by Nubya Garcia featuring Esperanza Spalding (2024)

It's always been a continual joy to see how the London-based saxophonist Nubya Garcia continues to grow in prominence and distinction over the years.  Having established herself through releases on Jazz Re:freshed, as a member of spiritual jazz outfit Maisha and as a key collaborator alongside a litany of contemporary London talent including Moses Boyd and Joe Armon-Jones.  Garcia's star would shine particularly bright following her signing to Concord Jazz and the release of her full-length solo debut 'SOURCE ⧺ WE MOVE' in 2021.  Garcia's sophomore album release delivered some exceptional moments notably the collaboration with Esperanza Spalding on the track 'Dawn'.  A total dream collaboration you'd have been forgiven for thinking we'd never get to see.

'Rare Groove Spectrum, Vol. 3' by Lance Ferguson

The tirelessly prolific efforts of Lance Ferguson now find the New Zealand-born and Melbourne-based DJ, producer, musician and band leader unveil the third instalment of his Rare Groove Spectrum series through the hallowed walls of Tru Thoughts Records.

And any reference to Ferguson's music-making as 'tirelessly prolific' could never be seen as an overstatement - we'd all do well to keep a continually keen eye on Ferguson's ongoing musical adventures that take him from the bombastic funk & soul of The Bamboos to the spiritual jazz of Menagerie or the bossa-boogie-nu-cool of Rare Groove Spectrum.

An incredibly diverse and imaginative artist really able to cultivate any style and adapt to the sounds around him.

We fleetingly mentioned The Bamboos but theirs is also a musical contribution that should be heralded.  With over twenty years of releases and global performances with Ferguson at the helm, Australia's funk and soul luminaries serve as compulsory to the contemporary funk & soul landscape as much as the efforts of The Mighty Mocambos, The Budos Band or The New Mastersounds.

The Rare Groove Spectrum however has afforded Ferguson a compelling new musical adventure.  Spearheaded by the first in the series - unveiled in 2018 through label home at the time Freestyle Records - Ferguson set out to reimagine a series of classic funk, jazz and soul tracks, repackaging them within a groovy jazz-funk aesthetic.  It's a project that ultimately showcases a devoted affection for music stemming from seemingly disparate and unrelated realms.  From Azymuth to Anderson .Paak, the Rare Groove Spectrum to date continues to present Ferguson's unadulterated fandom through an audio smorgasbord of music and culture.

Ferguson had previously alluded to the Rare Groove perception of the songs as being conceived through the eyes of a DJ and reinterpreting songs as desired - fleshing certain songs out further while highlighting perhaps undersold aspects of the originals.  Perhaps Ferguson's years of spinning and collecting records would ultimately pave the way for the Rare Groove Spectrum series to come to fruition as so many of these boundary- and genre-less ideals are beautifully captured through Ferguson's unhindered vision.  

With a versatile selection of tracks covered included 'My Future' by Billie Eilish, Gene Harris' 'Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong' and Pyramid's 'Song for Bobby', the third instalment of the Ferguson's 'Rare Groove Spectrum is a project that lovingly wears its inspirations on its sleeve.  Each inclusion in the trilogy of full-lengths serve as small homages to Ferguson's own heroes – wonderfully recontextualising the music to produce a dynamic and versatile album with each go-round.

'Wavemakers' by Alex Ventling

'Wavemakers' marks the latest release from pianist and visual artist Alex Ventling whose sensational new album delivers a standout amongst his burgeoning catalogue.

New Zealand-born and Norway-based, Ventling's journey to date has taken him across the world with a minor pitstop in New York to attend the New York Film Academy, before ultimately side-stepping the prestigious Berklee College of Music for the Jazzcampus Basel where he completed his Masters in Jazz Piano and Music Pedagogy.

Ventling's commitment to his music and to his art has led to some outstanding moments within his comparatively young career.  Consistently keen to recontextualize his music in accordance with the litany of incredible collaborators that he is able to collaborate and make music with, Ventling has released duo projects alongside guitarist Hein Westgaard ('In Orbit', 2023) and drummer Phelan Burgoyne ('The View', 2024), led his Alex Ventling Trio from Norway to New Zealand in 2020 for an epic run of ten concert performances across two weeks, and of course we have Alex Ventling's quartet project, Alex & The Wavemakers.

Initially debuting in 2018 with their self-titled release, the quartet's original incarnation boasted the esteemed distinction of featuring vocalist and pianist Yumi Ito as part of the line-up.  Ito's presence serves as a real treat especially when considering the team-up with Ventling as something of an inspired combination in of itself.  And while the 2018 album was without doubt a fantastic project, the band's evolved state seven years later presents a line-up that affords a reimagining of the quartet's original sound allowing for expansive new narratives soundscapes to take shape.  Waving the flag for The Wavemakers for this go-round, and performing alongside Ventling on piano, is violinist Tuva Halse, vibraphonist Amund Stenøien and drummer August Glännestrand.  

It's a quartet with an entirely new context and one that soars within a lush collage of sound that navigates a masterfully charted course across the album's nine compositions.  Ventling and company boast an innate ability to create these beautiful pieces that present the rich elegance of neo-classical stylings while still serving as inspired celebrations of ambient and free jazz at the same time.  So much of the music throughout 'Wavemakers' boasts such visceral and vivid textures that it's actually no surprise that Ventling can lay claim to being an accomplished photographer as well: whether consciously or not, Ventling's music is almost conceived with these visual aspects in mind which are a tribute to the intimate and intricate nature of each musician's performance as individuals and as a cohesive quartet.

Vocalist Sissel Vera Pettersen guests on 'Omaha' and skilfully embeds her vocal into the comfort of the musicians around her, never trying to outdo them, and contributing to a wonderfully harmonious soundscapes as a result.

Within the context of Alex Ventling's ever-expanding catalogue of music, 'Wavemakers' stands as a confident and self-assured entry.  It's a project that manages to showcase a wide variety of Ventling influences and a project that does marvellous justice to everything that has brought the pianist and his team to this moment.

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.