A catch-all thread for the current jazz scene in London, including Shabaka Hutchings, Yazz Ahmed, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Camilla George, Theon Cross, Zara McFarlane, Daniel Casimir, SEED Ensemble,

That must be inside the Trinity Buoy Wharf lighthouse, which for the last 20 years has been playing a piece of constantly changing generative music intended to last 1,000 years.

(I mean I assume it is, I can't imagine there are any other lighthouses in London).

I've listened to Universal Beings last week and now I'm listening to the Nubya Garcia and I'm not stopping here. I love these records that seem to do an overview of the history of jazz, drawing equally from the tradition and other influences. I'm still discovering but it's a joy. I don't think I had listened to contemporary jazz since Matana Roberts, with an exception or two (Shabaka's Wisdom of Elders notably).

This McCraven remix of "Source" is pretty banging: https://nubyagarcia.bandcamp.com/album/source-makaya-mccraven-remix

for ukers bbc4 got a live jazz 625 programme on bbc4 a week on Friday ft nubya garcia, poppy ajudha , moses boyd, kokoroko etc

Yazz Ahmed record mentioned upthread is fire, exactly what I'm looking for at the moment.

Recommend the Blue Note Re:Imagined album which works as a primer to the scene. http://www.bluenote.com/artist/blue-note-reimagined/

Great comp, Jorja Smith's cover of "Rose Rouge" has been a particularly big track for me.

Watching the Jazz625 show from last night. The 'Jools Holland setup' of the studio is tricky and a bit sterile but damn Sons of Kemet killing it.

The whole thing does lack a bit of Jools' charisma and boogie-woogie piano.

Shabaka is such a sweet guy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000pjds/jazz-625-the-british-jazz-explosion

a primer to the scene. http://www.bluenote.com/artist/blue-note-reimagined/
Also, Soul Jazz Records comp Kaleidoscope has led to me to so many recent, excellent albums by contributors!

The Jazz 625 thing was great, esp. Sarathy Korthar, who just keeps putting out amazing stuff.

very much enjoyed the Yazz Ahmed, thanks thread

xp the soul jazz comp is pretty excellent, i already had several of tracks on it because i've been following the scene a bit but i don't mind because the pressing and sound is fantastic

I find remix es of (acoustic) jazz often to be a mixed bag, but Yazz Ahmed's new "Polyhymnia Remixed" EP is excellent! Four remixes of last year's album's tracks, and they're all top-notch, each of them has an interesting enough new angle to the source material while still sounding like Ahmed.

"An Ill Considered Christmas" is currently on heavy rotation in my house, although I admit I don't recognise most of the tunes they're interpreting, so it's not *that* xmassy.

New Yussef Dayes live double LP --> https://yussefdayes.com/

I like the Kamaal Williams solo outing from earlier this yr, but this is scratching the itch for some lengthier jams.

Been dipping a toe into this scene recently - kickstarted by tipsy mothra bringing up Moses Boyd in the Sault thread.

Liking:
Yazz Ahmed - Polyhymnia
Moses Boyd - Dark Matter

REALLY Liking:
Nubya Garcia - Source
Shabaka & the Ancestors - We Are Sent Here By History

It's been so long since I've listened to things that are fully-blown jazz that I kind of feel like I've forgotten how to listen to them properly, if that makes sense? But I guess a lot of what's coming out of this scene has aspects that people who've primarily listening to non-jazz stuff can still hook on to.

Going to work my way through the Shabaka Hutchings-related projects (Your Queen Is A Reptile by SoK, which I'd managed to misss at the time, sounds great on a first listen), then check out the compilations mentioned & the BBC showcases and see where I go from there. Really nice to find new jazz that I like again anyway.

fwiw there are a couple other threads that preceded this one:
the shape of acid jazz to come: MOSES BOYD's Dark Matter
London jazz wizard Shabaka Hutchings: Sons of Kemet / The Comet Is Coming / Shabaka & the Ancestors

I'm pretty sure I like Your Queen and the previous Ancestors album more than WASHBH but that might just be a reflection of how awesome it was to first discover Hutchings.

I've been considering a dedicated Garcia thread as this point I might be most into The Source out of those four, but that might be thread overload

Thanks, yeah I've taken a flick through those threads as well.
Source really is a cracker. Will give Nubya's 5ive a shot at some point soon (although the comments upthread suggest it's maybe not quite as exciting).

Finally bought this:
Blue Note Re:imagined presents classic Blue Note tracks, reworked and newly recorded by a selection of the UK scene’s most exciting young talents today. Representing a bridge between the ground-breaking label’s past and future, the project will feature contributions from a rollcall of internationally acclaimed jazz, soul and R&B acts – Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Mr Jukes, Steam Down, Skinny Pelembe, Emma-Jean Thackray, Poppy Ajudha, Jordan Rakei, Fieh, Ishmael Ensemble, Blue Lab Beats, Melt Yourself Down, Yazmin Lacey, Alfa Mist, and Brit Award-winning Jorja Smith.
It really is re:imagined, sometimes going pretty far, but honoring the originals, often w very deep calm delvings, accessible and thoughtful, never laid back or hyper. Especially struck, at the moment, by "Maiden Voyage" with a vocal chorus where Freddie Hubbard's trumpet was, but not just imitating his lines. Also I'm now getting more aware of, for instance, Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Henderson as *composers*, wanting to get more into their catalogs (well played, Blue Note).

(Think I slightly prefer Disc 2, but was fiddling w my boombox settings some during Disc 1.)

Source really is a cracker. Will give Nubya's 5ive a shot at some point soon (although the comments upthread suggest it's maybe not quite as exciting)

^Thanks Tuomas. I was actually listening to the SEED Ensemble - Driftglass album a few days ago (after enjoying their tune on the Soul Jazz comp). I like it a lot and can hear the similarities to Source. I ended up enjoying Nubya's 5ive as well, especially the first version of Hold.
Will try the Maisha albums next, and La Saboteuse (Polyhymnia just gets better & better the more I listen to it).

I like that Yussef Dayes live album mentioned above, and through that I backed my way into his album with Tom Misch from earlier in the year: http://www.bluenote.com/artist/tom-misch-yussef-dayes/. Also pretty cool.

This Kokoroko Proms set was part of NPR's New Year's Eve party, this time in quarantine, so all prev. recorded, pretty lively though. Scroll down this page for link, to stream/download:
https://www.npr.org/2020/12/28/948032453/toast-of-the-nation-2021
With roots in Africa and the Caribbean, this eight-piece band blends the sounds of Afrobeat and jazz with a West African approach to improvisation. KOKOROKO plays music that grabs your attention and makes you want to move in the funkiest way possible. The band performed this concert — its very first concert since the pandemic began — at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with no audience. But that didn't stop KOKOROKO from getting it done like they always do.
59:57
Set List:
"Uman"
"Abusey Junction"
"Ti-de"
"Flip Story"
"Baba Ayoola"
"Age of Ascent"
"Carry Me Home"
Musicians: Sheila Maurice-Grey, trumpet; Cassie Kinoshi, saxophone; Richie Seivewright, trombone; Oscar Jerome, guitar; Yohan Kebede, keys; Mutale Chashi; bass; Ayo Salawu, drums; Onome Edgeworth, percussion.

Their Oscar Jerome also takes a great spotlight turn with the Joe Armon-Jones group on that Gilles Peterson live set I linked way upthread.

And this was my *first* gateway:https://weouthere.bandcamp.com/album/we-out-here
1.
Maisha - Inside The Acorn 05:57
2.
Ezra Collective - Pure Shade 06:33
3.
Moses Boyd - The Balance 05:44
4.
Theon Cross - Brockley 03:36
5.
Nubya Garcia - Once 05:28
6.
Shabaka Hutchings - Black Skin, Black Masks 07:03
7.
Triforce - Walls 05:26
8.
Joe Armon-Jones - Go See 07:43
9.
Kokoroko - Abusey Junction 07:09

From Sounds Of The Universe: new 2-part collection(s):

Jazzman present their overview of the contemporary exponents of Spiritual Jazz; musicians who are intent on bringing something personal to the table, as much as they recognize the importance of those who have paved the way for them. Features music recorded within the past 20 years and from 15 different countries, including modern classics from the likes of Chip Wickham, Nat Birchall, Shabaka & the Ancestors through to veterans such as Idris Ackamoor, providing a vital link between the past masters and the enlightened new generation.
Track list for Pt. 1:
Benjamin Herman - Lizard Waltz
2 Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - An Angel Fell
3 Nat Birchall - The Black Ark
4 Chip Wickham - Shamal Wind
5 Jimi Tenor and Kabukabu - Suite Meets
6 Black Flower - Winter
7 Darryl Yokley - Echoes of Ancient Sahara
8 Damon Lock's Black Monument Ensemble - Sounds Like Now
9 Oiro Pena - Nimeton
10 Cat Toren - Soul
11 Shabaka & the Ancestors - Nguni
12 Makaya McCraven - Gnawa
More Info & Audio: https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/product/spiritual-jazz-13-now-pt-1
Track List for Pt. 2:
1 The Cosmic Range - Palms to Heaven
2 Vibration Black Finger - Empty Streets
3 Abeeku - Slow Sweet Burn
4 Wildflower - Flute Song
5 The Pyramids - Memory Ritual
6 Steve Reid - For Coltrane 08:04
7 Carla Marciano - Trane's Groove
8 Angel Bat Dawid - What do I tell my children who are black (Dr. Margaret
Burroughs)
9 Menagerie - Nova
10 Teemu Akerblom - Avo's Tune
11 The Jamie Saft Quartet - Vessels
12 Jonas Kullhammar - Paris
More Info & Audio: https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/product/spiritual-jazz-13-now-pt-2

New Sons of Kemet album, Black to the Future, out in May. I've heard it; it's great. There's a video for the first single:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDepEUnJwpY

well that sounds awesome

Into it

Also I see Les Twins finally have some competition in the twin-based dance duo sector

Heard this yesterday and it was stuck in my head all day

Sounds and looks so cool. Has something Caribbean that may or may not be Trinidad and also something of Keleketla, which is still my favorite album from last year.

Has something Caribbean that may or may not be Trinidad

Hutchings is from Barbados.

Excellent song. I'm impressed at how relatively restrained it is. I saw a headline about this being released (on a Nate Chinen piece via an NPR affiliate) that nonsensically called it "fiery." Super excited to hear the rest of the album now

SoK were the group that got me into all this London stuff, and I'm unreasonably excited about this record...their last one remains one of my most-played from the past few years.

yeah I'm stoked

I don't know to what if any degree Dave DeRose ties into the rest of the London scene, but this new Agile Experiments album is pretty cool.

https://davederosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/bloom-anubis

This new Kemet album is incendiary

I cannot fucking believe this is currently only available via Apple in the US?

OK it's on Spotify too, but I want a real copy

The new one killed me last night. I think I like it better than the last one.

it's fantastic

https://sonsofkemetmusic.bandcamp.com/album/black-to-the-future-explicit

Expected more from the double e collaboration.

Like this more than the last one on first contact. Deliberately didn’t listen ago anything pre release. Hustle is deliciously low key. Very happy.

great album

don't think i'll go back to the spoken word pieces to much more but everything else is on heavy repeat

Listening to this know, and oh man, "Pick Up the Burning Cross" is probably the most intense thing they've ever recorded, it's incredible!

June 18 Rosie Turton EP Expansions and Transformations: Part I & II is totally refreshing from first notes, riding with Turton's deep, luminous trombone--fave so far is "part II, where she's in call and response wi violin---skylight electronics passing over them both at one point, with piano periphery and roiling bass and drums---they kick up the tempo on "The Unknown (Rework)," a new version of a song from 2018 alb Rosie's 5ive. and a closing remix of "Part II" keeps it up, without getting gimmicky: whole thing is reflective, eyecaching grain of acoustic jazz with electronics (and influence of associated dynamics) folded into the planes o' flow:https://rosieturton.bandcamp.com/album/expansions-and-transformations-part-i-ii

Yeah, good stuff. Thanks for the heads up.

So I find the process behind Makaya McCraven - Deciphering the Message really fascinating but maybe more than the music itself ? Very pleasant sound nonetheless, part of me wishes it was transformed even further, part of me thinks it's perfect like that. It opens so many possibilities too.

It's a fun album, if not nearly as compelling as his last outings.

In pure jazz fashion, I will pick up on the conversation in the other thread that mentions Theon Cross, who is opening on the first track of Liminal Space, released by Ill Considered on 12 Nov 2021, a mix of live impro with takes added in the studio. The first reviews say it is colossal, groovy, energetic, shamanistic. Second track is arabic jazz, third track adds flutes, a great bassline and textures (think Shabaka meets Batsumi), fourth track is contemplative Ethio-jazz, fifth track intense and swirling like its title suggests. This is a really cool record.

Line-up: Idris Rahman (saxophone), Liran Donin (bass) and Emre Ramazanoglu (drums), but also a range of collaborators such as Collocutor’s Tamar Osborn, Steam Down saxophonist Ahnanse, tuba player Theon Cross and percussionist Sarathy Korwar.

Yeah, I've been a fan of Ill Considered since the beginning, and included their new album (and bassist Daniel Casimir's new one) in my latest Stereogum column.

Ill Considered is on my to-listen list, sounds awesome Nabozo. I liked most of Cross's new album this year too

I enjoy Deciphering the Message a lot, but McCraven needs to release a proper new album so we can have an overdue dedicated thread and stop discussing him in the London jazz thread lol

the Casimir album is really nice, lands right in the middle between the Boyd and Garcia albums to my ears

Ilxor Daniel RF said that the first xpost Blue Note Re: Imagined sounded like a wine bar, but a good one, and the rearrangements were creative enough to get me wondering about certain Blue Note stalwarts I'd taken as a local jazz station given, without going further into their catalogs---well played, Blue Note. So here's the follow-up on CD and 2-LP, shipping Aug. 12:

Blue Npte Re:Imagined II

Blue Note Re:imagined returns in 2022 with a new 16-track compilation featuring fresh takes on music from the illustrious Blue Note vaults recorded by a heavyweight line-up of the UK jazz, soul and R&B scene’s most hotly-tipped rising stars. Arriving off the back of the widespread international success of the first volume, which topped jazz charts around the globe in 2020, Blue Note Re:imagined II once again infuses the spirit of the new UK jazz generation into the legendary label’s iconic catalog, balancing the genre’s tradition with its future and reflecting the melting pot of talent and diversity within the current scene. The second volume presents covers of classic Blue Note tracks by Donald Byrd, Grant Green, Wayne Shorter, Thelonious Monk, Bobbi Humphrey, Marlena Shaw, Chico Hamilton, Chick Corea, Joe Lovano, Cassandra Wilson, and Norah Jones by a rollcall of acclaimed talent including Yazz Ahmed, Conor Albert, Parthenope, Swindle, Nubiyan Twist, Ego Ella May, Oscar Jerome, Daniel Casimir, Theon Cross, Maya Delilah, Kay Young, Venna & Marco, Reuben James, Binker Golding, Cherise, and Franc Moody.

Tracklist:

1. Yazz Ahmed - It
2. Conor Albert - You Make Me Feel So Good
3. Parthenope - Don’t Know Why
4. Swindle - Miss Kane
5. Nubiyan Twist - Through The Noise (Chant No.2)
6. Ego Ella May - Morning Side Of Love
7. Oscar Jerome - Green With Envy
8. Daniel Casimir ft. Rita Moran - Lost
9. Theon Cross - Epistrophy
10. Maya Delilah - Harvest Moon
11. Kay Young - Feel Like Making Love
12. Venna & Marco - Where Are We Going
13. Reuben James - Infant Eyes
14. Binker Golding - Fort Worth
15. Cherise - Sunrise
16. Franc Moody - Cristo Redentor
Ego Ella May “The Morning Side of Love” / Theon Cross “Epistrophy” – 7” Vinyl Single

Kay Young “Feel Like Making Love” / Venna & Marco Bernardis “Where Are We Going?” – 7” Vinyl Single

The Comet Is Coming are touring the US in October. I saw them a couple of years ago — if they come to your town, GO.

Will do!

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1418/3572/products/Blue_Note_Cover-1-_1.png?v=1654630134

more info: https://store.bluenote.com/collections/new-releases/products/blue-note-re-imagined-ii

two Shabaka threads, so let’s do an xpost:

a concert this coming Tuesday that might be of interest to Londoners, with sets from three Native Rebel artists, Shabaka Hutchings’ record label:

https://earthackney.co.uk/events/native-rebel-recordings-the-brother-moves-on-chelsea-carmichael-con-kwake-15-11-2022/

mentioning it because I saw The Brother Moves On from Johannesburg in Amsterdam last night and they were awesome. I only knew their “You Think You Know Me” from last year because it was nominated in Tom Ewing’s EOY Twitter poll. great track, but not very representative (and they didn’t play it).

they performed as a five-piece band (guitar, bass, drums and two saxophonists/flutists) plus wonderful frontman/vocalist Siyabonga Mthembu.
there’s a lot of jazz in what they do, but (to my ears at least) it’s local SA genres at the heart of it all. their Wikipedia entry mentions “maskandi rock” (and “ninja gospel” fwiw).

listening to their recent album right now, and I’m enjoying it, but it can’t hold a candle to the live performance. go see them live if you can.

I guess I might add that they somehow manage to be intense and fun at the same time

btw, I didn’t realize just how recent that album is, it came out two weeks ago. having listened to their previous one, Tolika Mtoliki from last year (not on Native Rebel), yesterday as well, I feel that one might actually be better.

winter jazzfest in nyc has a jamie branch memorial show in the works