More Music Less Words #143

Hi friends!

Here are my 5 selections for the month:

#House #Funk #Soul #Jazz

BBE keep doing what they do best: making sure essential music stays in circulation. Now More Than Ever brought Brian Jackson back into the spotlight decades after his work with Gil Scott-Heron, surrounding him with Masters At Work and whole new generation of musicians while keeping his message intact. Soul, jazz and groove with something real to say underneath. Proof that some voices never lose relevance.

#Contemporary Jazz #Jazz Fusion

Few musicians wear as many hats as Mark de Clive-Lowe. Producer, keyboardist, composer, bandleader—he’s spent years connecting jazz, broken beat, house and electronic music without forcing any of it. Dreamweavers II continues that path, contemporary jazz that stays open to whatever sounds useful rather than whatever category it belongs to.

#Soul-Jazz #Funk #Disco

Most people around here will probably recognize the title track from Rick Wade’s “Can You See,” which borrowed its unforgettable melody. Going back to the source is even better. Released on Atlantic, one of Barretto’s strongest 1970s records, it’s a perfect example of how comfortably he moved between salsa, jazz and funk influences while never losing that percussive drive.

#Salsa #Cha-Cha #Bolero

Nobody sang salsa quite like Héctor. On Qué Sentimiento!, every line sounds lived rather than performed. Around him, the piano keeps dancing through the changes while the percussion section never stops pushing forward. Joy, heartbreak, swagger, vulnerability—it’s all there in the voice: El Cantante de la Gente.

#Ambient

Just available on vinyl now thanks to Tokonoma Records, with a glowing new artwork that suits the music perfectly. Originally recorded around 2019-20 by a collective including Sam Gendel, Mia Doi Todd and Laraaji, Warm Waves grew out of home recordings and communal sessions that later became a blueprint for the band’s following releases. Looking back, you can hear an entire chapter beginning here.

That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed the selections.

Have a great weekend!

Stay groovy,
Dudier