Modern Jazz

Cologne-based, multi-instrumentalist and creative jazz powerhouse Gianni Brezzo follows on the tail of LP “Tutto Passa,” with a special kind of excursion in “Soundscapes Vol. 1 – Music for Harlequins,” arriving via Berlin’s Jakarta Records March 10th.

If you're into the classic sound of the best releases from the seventies and eighties era Jazz-Funk or Fusion with a slightly modern and exciting touch, you don’t want to miss out on Fusion Affair’s first album: Venom! Proudly presented by Parisian label Chuwanaga, Venom is filled with sharp synths, electrifying basslines, serious guitar licks, amazing themes, in-the-pocket drums grooves and true excitement all over the six tracks of the album.Starting with "Fruits Rouges" which introduces the listener to the beautiful and soulful harmonies spread throughout the album but also an overall overview of how Fusion Affair and Venom brings together strength and delicacy. Then, the impetuous and dangerous ride of "Venom" will leave you either dancing or shocked. A dangerous trip with a perfect climactic ending: watch out for the snakes! The serious but fun-filled groove of "Bounce" will take you back to Herbie Hancock’s seventies, with a jazz-funk style that you cannot resist bouncing your head to! Despite its chordal simplicity, the dreamier yet modern track "Dasha" begins with an unconventional use of berimbau. After several expositions of its beautiful main melody, the track intensifies with a perfectly executed drum and bass interlude. "Missing Cat" returns to a classic Jazz-Funk vibe with late seventies synth brass accentuating its playful theme. This one’s definitely got a vintage vibe! Finally, "Bougie Noire" ends Fusion Affair’s first album with powerful chords and orchestration while keeping it truly mysterious : to be continued...Fusion Affair brings together the talents of French musicians from Lyon, Paris and Montréal, all gathered by the producer LeMatoux. Following many sessions at the infamous Studio Delta, record label Chuwanaga and the band are ready to spread their infectious groove all over the globe!

Pre-pandemic, there was a plan. The plan was for musicians from South Africa and Senegal to travel to London’s in uential Total Refreshment Centre to make an album with musical kindred spirits in the UK. Like so many plans, it had to be adapted. Album features an array of high profile players from the burgeoning nu-jazz scenes in London and Johannesburg, including Theon Cross, Asher Gamdeze, Siya Makuzeni (SPAZA), The Comet Is Coming’s Danalogue & Alabaster dePlumeDuring the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns, groups of heavy-hitting musicians met for a day of intense recording in their home cities then sent the music to their compadres across the oceans. They returned to the studio a month later to respond to the music they’d been sent. The result is ‘On Our Own Clock’, a sonic testament to trenchant and collaborative creativity which digs into layers of South African jazz, traditional Senegalese instrumental music and London’s rich diaspora-informed musicality. Individually these are powerful strands of music. Collectively, they are super-sized.The 14 players are individually stellar and include tuba don Theon Cross; Alabaster dePlume, whose album ‘To Cy & Lee’ has been a pandemic panacea to so many people (including Bon Iver, who sampled it); top South African players including Siya Makuzeni (SPAZA), Zoe Molelekwaand Asher Gamedze, who appears on Angel Bat Dawid’s critically-acclaimed ‘The Oracle’ and whose debut album, ‘Dialectic Soul’, received universal acclaim upon its release in 2020; The Comet Is Coming’s Danalogue; Senegal’s highlyrespected Kora player, Tarang Cissoko as well as Balimaya Project’s Yahael Camara Onono. Collectively they’ve ascended their individual brilliance into an album that is variously warm and layered, full of tuff grooves, and steeped in moments of reflective transcendence.