SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA - Rising Sun (2010)

An amazing set from this band that never fails to excite us, and a record that has them really living up to the spiritual promise of their name!! Although still filled with the Afro Funky lines that first got the group some notice, there's also a deeper vibe running through this record too, one that has links to 70s righteous Jazz, and a wider range of African expressions too, including bits of Ethiopian and Egyptian elements as well!! The instrumentation is great, really complex and interesting, with bits of vibes, reeds, and a range of percussion instruments that really keep things fresh, plus some beautiful piano lines that create an almost Build An Ark sense of peace and promise!!

Tracklisting:

1. Awakening
2. Agbara
3. Negus Negast
4. Lotus Flower
5. Mamaya
6. Serenity
7. Consecration
8. Rejoice, Pt. 1
9. Rejoice, Pt. 2

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NOMO - Invisible Cities (2009)

Great stuff from global Funk phenoms Nomo, deftly blending Afro steeped Funk with an astral reach, with more of a Spiritual Jazz influence and off kilter avant touches!! Invisible Cities arrives just about a year since their breakthrough Ghost Rock opened so many doors, and although productivity and consistency have never been a problem with Elliot Bergman & co, we're still pretty awestruck, especially given that Ghost Rock set the bar pretty high!! Blazing horns, dynamic rhythms and rapturous percussion galore, with the electric kalimba still defining the group's identity nicely, with lots of sweaty Funk, more spacious Spiritual Jazz atmosphere, and a couple of choice covers!!

Tracklisting:
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1. Invisible Cities
2. Bumbo
3. Waiting
4. Crescent
5. Patterns
6. Ma
7. Banners On High
8. Elijah
9. Nocturne

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