John Handy, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Ali Akbar Khan ‎– Rainbow [1981]

Great indo-jazz record, second encounter between John Handy(saxophone) and Ali Akbar Khan(sarod) after a first MPS record 5 years before with the addition of L. Subramaniam in violin.

                                                              Enjoy!

Ocote Soul Sounds with Adrian Quesada - El Niño Y El Sol [2004]

''El Niño y el Sol" is a collaboration between Martin Perna (Ocote Soul Sounds) and Adrian Quesada. They are founding members of two of the world's most successful and progressive afro/latin/funk big bands, Antibalas and Grupo Fantasma, respectively. Antibalas (Brooklyn, NY) has been credited with reviving the afrobeat sound popularized by Fela Kuti while Grupo Fantasma (Austin, TX) has been called "the adventurous musical offspring of Los Lobos and Mano Negra.

In this welcome pseudo-soundtrack, Latin percussion and woodwinds meet electronica, conventional instruments and other sounds to create a unique mix that explores various moods. In one instance, you have '70s-inspired funk with a salsa-ish backbeat that lends itself to a lot of improvised moments on saxophone and flute. In another, you have a dreamy ambient soundscape that leads you to a completely different place. In between, you have a saxophone freely traveling through a semi-psychedelic background formed by guitar, bass, B-3 and percussion. Also, you have very short interludes that serve sometimes as introductions or simply a break between tunes. 

                                                                Enjoy!

Praise Space Electric - Mushroom Jazz [1997]

Praise Space Electric are the alter ego of key members of much loved UK band The Moonflowers.
Recorded in 1996 in France at the Moonflowers farm studio and mixed in Bristol, Mushroom Jazz is a highly inventive combination of laid back funky grooves, psychedelic rock and cool jazz that defies comparison. With it's roots in the underground, lounge-fusions of Bristol's funky club scene, this album is bizarre yet obvious.

Why hasn't this been done before? The answer is of course that nobody has had the nerve or the ability. The liquid guitar work of Jesse Vernon recalls Jimi Hendrix at his acid fried best whilst the stunningly competent and fluid backing of bass, drums and keyboards/synths supplied by the rest of the band is a breathtaking experience. Assorted extra musicians add woodwind, strings and vocals to add the garnish to a highly original and magically different album that will dust down those purple flares in the boutique at the back of your mind.... 

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Enjoy!

J.J. Cale - Really [1972]

Cale’s second album followed much the same formula as his first - laid-back blues-rock with hints of country and jazz. Indeed by now it was clear that he had his own unique sound that he was sticking to. There are some differences worth noting however. Whilst much of Naturally had a rough demo-like feel, Really was clearly recorded on a bigger budget, with a large roster of professional session musicians and a cleaner, more polished sound. The album was recorded at various big studios in Muscle Shoals, Nashville and Mount Juliet.

Enjoy!