Jazz /
Khumbula (Remember)
A duo recording from October 2004, produced by Evan Parker, which marked the first time that Louis Moholo-Moholo and Stan Tracey had worked together for thirty years and the first time ever as a duo. The pair entered Gateway Studios in Kingston, London with no prior discussion on what form the music should take, choosing instead to let the music take them. This glorious album is the result.
Mpumi
An album of piano / drums duets that Louis named for his beloved, and now tragically departed, wife Mpumi. The recordings took place in London in September, 1995, though the album was not actually released until 2002.
"Louis Moholo-Moholo, Son of the soil, has embarked on this musical journey with two of South Afrika's treasures - pianists Mervyn Africa and Pule Pheto. The third Pianist being his old favourite and friend, Keith Tippett. Louis's vibrant, warm and marvellous sounds celebrate the m…
Bò Kay La Vi-a
Ogun presents Bò Kay La Vi-a by Francine Luce. One of the lesser-known gems in the Ogun catalogue - check the the list of participating musicians to start with! Francine, originally from Martinique but a long-time resident of the UK, has contributed her unique vocals to Louis Moholo-Moholo's Unit and Septet, and to the Dedication Orchestra, but this her debut album from 1999 remains her only recorded output under her name on Ogun.
Different Times Vol 2
A second volume of valuable documents from the Ogun archives by label co-founder Harry Miller. the tracks come from three sessions spanning 1977-1982. All feature Harry on bass with Louis Moholo-Moholo behind the drum kit and Trevor Watts on sax, other musicians included are Alan Wakeman (sax), Bernie Holland (guitar), Keith Tippett (piano), Alan Tomlinson (trombone), Dave Holdsworth (trumpet). This joyful music, at times rough around the edges but full of life and spirit, conviction and enthusi…
Pipedream
King Crimson/Soft Machine alumnus Mark Charig played in Keith Tippett's group and Centipede big band, and here on his sole Ogun album Keith and vocalist Ann Winter formed a trio to create a gem of free improvisation. Recorded over two cold days in January 1977, in a Bristol church, it was released on LP as OG 710, then reissued in 2010 on CD (OGCD033) with an extra previously unreleased track.
Live at Willisau
This famous recording previously released as an LP now on CD with extra music launched the Ogun label. Recorded live at the Willisau Jazz Festival, Sept. 1974. Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath big band was exciting packed audiences throughout Europe, and needed an outlet provided by this new label, home of the South African family. The cover was designed by Niklaus Troxler with sleeve notes by Val Wilmer.
Recorded live at Willisau, Switzerland, 27 January 1973 by Roland Janz. Edited and re…
Madagascar Now - Maintenant 'Zao
** Carefully remastered. 4 page booklet with rare and unpublished photos ** While he was working on the repertoire for the new version of his group Malagasy, with young Malagasy musicians he had met in Paris in 1972 (and who can be heard on the album "Malagasy At Newport-Paris"), Jef Gilson realised that two of his new discoveries, in addition to being established polyinstrumentalists (who both had sharpened their skills in the legendary seja-jazz band from La Réunion, Le Club Rythmique), were a…
Malagasy
** Carefully remastered. 4 page booklet with rare and unpublished photos.** Paris, May 13th 1968. There was a general strike. One last plane left the runway, strewn with flaming oil drums. On board were three jazz musicians wondering whether they would be able to return home one day. But for the time being they really want to make it to Madagascar where concerts and workshops with young local musicians were waiting for them. Pianist and bandleader Jef Gilson was accompanied by his bassist Gilber…
Live in Munich
Six sounds, six perspectives, six personalities. The “Sestetto Internazionale” is unique in different ways. You won’t find this line up a second time: two soprano saxophones, violine, piano, turntables and quartertone accordeon. Three high melody instruments and three instruments which act rhythmically and harmonically and melodically. But those cathegories don’t exist here. The only thing that counts is listening. These six worldclass improvisors like to create and expend sound scapes. It’s not…
Cardinal Point
First time ever in the studio! Two great musicians! Double bass virtuoso from France, Bernard Santacruz and drum wizard Michael Zerang from the USA. Beautifully recorded in the legendary studio La Buissone in Pernes les Fontaines, where was made some most excellent recordings in such labels like for example ECM. Recorded on October 14th 2019 at Studio La Buissonne by Gérad de Haro. Mixed by Gérard de Haro. Mastering Nicolas Baillard. Liner Note: Michel Dorbon. Photo: Michel Dorbon. Cover design,…
Scratching Fork
Fundacja Słuchaj! presents Scratching Fork by Marek Malinowski, Robert Rychlicki-Gąsowski and Wojciech Zadrużyński. Recorded at A/V Studio in Bydgoszcz, 11-12.11.2017. Recorded, mixed by Artur Maćkowiak. Mastered by Marcin Bociński. All compositions by Marek Malinowski. Photos by Wojciech Woźniak. Liner Notes: Robert Rychlicki. Graphic Design: Zuza Ustjan. Executive Producer: Maciej Karłowski. Special thanks to Tomasz Łuczak.
A place between structure and fluctuation where planning and spontane…
Unmoved Mover
Fundacja Słuchaj! presents Unmoved Mover, a solo album by Vasco Trilla. All music by Vasco Trilla. Recorded on 30/06/2020 by El Pricto at T.U.R.F, Barcelona. Mixed and Mastered by El Pricto. Photo by Arvydas Gudas. Graphic Design: Zuza Ustjan. Executive Producer: Maciej Karłowski.
"Vasco Trilla is a masterful visionary sonic alchemist, a sound painter of subtlety and grace. His work has a great capacity for stillness and space, qualities both rare and much needed in these chaotic overstimulated …
Carlton Streets
Composer and saxophonist Brian Brown produced some of the most refined Australian jazz recordings during the 1970s. A versatile musician whose distinct impressionist music melded modern jazz with the outer limits of free experimentation. Considered to be his greatest work was the 1975 concept album Carlton Streets, an ambitious recording that romanticised the sights, sounds and the nostalgia of this once-bohemian Melbourne neighbourhood. Differing from his eco-jazz composition Wildflowers heard …
The Oracle
Composer, clarinetist, singer and spiritual jazz soothsayer Angel Bat Dawid descended on Chicago's jazz and improvised music scene just a few years ago. In very short time, the potency, prowess, spirit and charisma of her cosmic musical proselytizing has taken her from relatively unknown improviser to borderline ubiquitous performer in Chicago's avant-garde. On any given night you can find Angel adding aura to ensembles led by Ben LaMar Gay, or Damon Locks, or Jaimie Branch, or Matthew Lux, or e…
Beautiful Bamboo-Flute
** In process of stocking ** Seminal Japanese jazz album from 1971. Journeys through jazz fusion, soul and big band moods. Impossible to obtain in its original format, these days. Hozan Yamamoto was recognised as a "living national treasure" by the Japanese government in 2002. This highly sought-after album from the Japanese wood flute player is more upbeat and swinging than some of his other records. The big band he recorded this album with (Sharps & Flats) played a big part in the genesis of t…
Dream Disobedience
** 2021 Stock ** Austrian pianist Elisabeth Harnik seems to thrive in duo settings. Michael Zerang, a Chicago-based drummer, is with her on Dream Disobedience, a live recording made at Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2019. The conversation, unabated for 35 minutes, is rather subdued, Harnik usually initiating each new topic, alternating traditional approaches with more unusual in-the-box techniques while Zerang eschews straight timekeeping for a more reactive role, adding the musical equivalents of ‘Hmm!…
Stone Jump
** 2021 Stock ** Not Two presents Stone Jump by Michael Marcus. Denton Darien – piano, John Austria – Fender Rhodes piano, Tyler Mitchell – acoustic bass, Warren Smith – drums & percussion, Lawrence Feldman – alto flute, Michael Marcus – soprano sax.
Voila la Tendresse
** 2021 Stock ** Pianist Carlo Morena leads this lyrical and energetic piano trio with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Félix Lecaros Herrera, performing 6 Morena compositions and one piece by Emil Boyd, recording at the Firehouse 12 studio in Connecticut for the 3rd album under the Step In name, and the first with drummer Herrera; upbeat but never cloying, a very compelling album.
Spiracle
** 2021 Stock ** A truly unique duo album of sax and drums from Chicago reedist Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla, using their immense technical skills to pivot reflective and meditative playing around exuberant free jazz spirit, maintaining a sense of journey and sonic introspection through unusual and extended technique; a beautifully balanced album. "Both American reedman Mars Williams and Spanish percussionist Vasco Trilla show themselves well grounded in the duet configur…
The Center Will Hold
** 2021 Stock ** "Not to burden trombonist Steve Swell with titanic comparisons, but it is safe to say that he is a logical heir to the worldly, cutting-edge personship of Roswell Rudd. Swell studied under Rudd and also with masters Jimmy Knepper and Grachan Moncur III (like Rudd, an associate of Archie Shepp in the '60s). Swell possesses a hearty, rippling, vibrant, somewhat vocalized tone, one of the most distinctive around, and like Rudd, is strongly rooted in the past with an eye on the oute…