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"It’s been a long time since I last recorded an album - a break of some 40 years! Passing Clouds now builds on my earlier retrospective work on “Light Patterns” and “Sticklebacks” released in the past few years by the wonderful Smiling C label. I still have a daily obsession of writing tunes and experimenting with sound and was recently inspired to record again. On Passing Clouds, I have tried to capture my love of sky watching and of being in peaceful places. I set about my sessions, as always, alone with my electric/acoustic guitars and bass, playing through simple analog equipment such as valve reverb, tremolo and tape delay. I use a violin bow to get the drone and ambient sounds into a tape looper. Whilst working on the album, I tried hard to get the feel of my favourite ECM artists such as Collin Walcott, Ralph Towner, John Abercrombie and Eberhard Weber - my heroes! They are as inspiring to me now as they were in the 70s." Kevin McCormick

Milo MacMahon and Raúl Indipwo, arrived to Portugal in 1959 and, over next three decades, they developed an international career in the music industry.

In addition to Portuguese and the various Angolan languages, the group recorded songs such as “Sylvie”, “La Kwela” and “Le Palmier” in French, among others, and also covered Latin American, Spanish-speaking, Brazilian and even North American repertoires, where on their various tours they came into contact with the struggle for the Civil Rights of the black population.

In 1969 Duo Ouro Negro went on tour to the United States. Their experience there was decisive for what we would come to know three years later. “Don't forget your blackground”, Raul Indipwo would exclaim in 1972, the voice of ‘Blackground’, the Angolan band's landmark album. Awakened to the activism of Black Power, attentive to the jazz that was being created on American soil, combined with an interest in the independence movements of the African colonies, what was then the most international of Portuguese bands recorded an album in Lisbon that was a vibrant cultural statement through music.

In 1981, “Blackground” was revised with new arrangements, including the instrumental “Dança do Robalinho”. Jazz-Funk at its best and now reissued for the first time in 7” format. You can't miss this jazz-funk gem made in Angola.

Missori is an instrumental, library music concept album dedicated to the city of Milan by Alberto Bazzoli, musician and composer. Graduated at the Frescobaldi Conservatory of Ferrara, he has collaborated in recent years with Alessandro Ristori & the Portofinos, Superpop (of which he is co-founder with Gianni D'Amato) and the Baustelle, with whom he recorded the latest album "Elvis."

Missori, produced by Jolly Mare, is the new album, released with the artist's independent label, "Icaro Musica." The album explores vintage sounds typical of Italian melodic soundtracks of the 1970s, through a variety of synthesizers and electronic keyboards. Listening goes by together with a track by track photos, made by Dave Masotti, that can be found inside the vinyl.

Dionisio Ramon Emilio Valdés Amaro, better known as Bebo Valdés, was born in Cuba in 1918. He is considered one of the pivotal figures in Cuban music. Trained as a pianist, he also became a master arranged and conductor and worked with figures like Olga Guillot, Celia Cruz or Elena Burke. A trip to Haiti in the 1940s arised his interest in African rooted music, and on his return in La Havana, performing at the legendary Tropicana cabaret under the direction of Armando Romeu, he started including these rhythms in his sound becoming a prominent figure in Afro-Cuban jazz. He worked with big names like Joséphine Baker and Nat King Cole. He had been playing for ten years at the Tropicana when a bomb exploded very near his piano in the middle of his performance, he nearly died. He quit the Tropicana and benefited of the rising of television broadcast in the 1950s, getting even more fame in several Cuban TV shows until 1958, when he emigrated to Mexico first to finally set in Sweden, were he has Paramount in establishing a world taste for Afro-Cuban jazz. His career saw a big rebirth when in 1994 he teamed with saxophonist Paquito d’Rivera and, in a more mainstream way, with Fernando Trueba’s Calle 54 movie. He had kept busy since then until his passing in 2013. he is acknowledged as one of the originators of Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban music.

Back in 1980, Weather Report consisted of Wayne Shorter - tenor & soprano sax, Joe Zawinul - keyboards, Jaco Pastorius - bass, Peter Erskine - drums and Bobby Thomas Jr. - percussion. Often considered as one of the best line ups in the band's history, this was a super tight combo playing with the same energy and power of a big band. The 1980 tour, also known as the "Night Passage" tour, is also remembered for the great visual impact, a large scale staging including laser and film projections. The Atlanra Fox Theater show sees the band at its peak, performing great renditions of classic tunes such as Zawinul's "Madagascar" and "Fast City", Pastorius' "Three Views of a Secret" and Shorter's "Port of Entry". This is an important live document from the greatest electric jazz band of all times, period!

A collection of early sessions from hardcore punk band Jerry's Kids.

Wahnsinnig gute, fast völlig unveröffentlichte Jazz-Funk-LP von Roland Haynes Jr. Bislang wurde nur der Titeltrack "Mind Games" 1983 als 7" ausgekoppelt. Aber wie viele engagierte Musiker, die ihren eigenen Weg ausserhalb der Musikindustrie gehen, war sich Haynes seines musikalischen Wertes und der Qualität seiner Band bewusst. Er hat seine Arbeit in Schlüsselmomenten dokumentiert, sorgfältig ausgearbeitete Studiosessions niedergeschrieben und ausverkaufte Live-Auftritte aufgezeichnet. Die Tracks hier stammen aus Haynes' persönlichem Archiv von Studioaufnahmen, die grösstenteils unveröffentlicht sind. Selbst an hohen Massstäben gemessen ist diese LP Riesig.

A Nnew deluxe 16 track DLP edition of Amerigo GAZAWAY's cult classic reimagining of his fav D'angelo cuts includes all the original tracks alongside their corresponding instrumentals, plus a few unreleased gems. A perfect mixture of hip-hop, gospel, house, neo-soul and R&B. Awesome full pic sleeve.

HHV Exclusive Coloured Vinyl Edition limited to 100 copies.

Gary Bartz (alto & soprano sax, vocals) - Charles Mims (piano, syntheziser) - Curtis Robertson (electric bass, back vocals) - Howard King (drums)
A fantastic live recorded in Bremen on 8th November 1975 set from reedman Gary Bartz – captured here with his ultra-hip NTU group – who you might know from their classic albums on Milestone in the 70s!
1 hour and 46 minutes of free and spiritual jazz.
Double LP 180gm vinyl
Gatefold cover
Strictly Limited Edition

Side A: Nation Time 11:54 / Ju Ju Man 18:50
Side B: Medley: Rise / Celestial Blues / The Sounding Song / Incident / Uhura Sasa 9:44 / Peace And Love 7:56 / Sifa Zote 10.02
Side C: I've Known Rivers 24:36
Side D: Sweet Tooth 24:26

For number 84 in the Brazil 45 Series, we headed to the North of Brazil with these dancefloor monsters by Magalhães and Os Panteras. 'Xangô' by Magalhães is taken from his 'E Sua Guitarra' album, from 1986, and originally released on Gravasom Records. A stunning, driving Lambada track with haunting vocals and a compelling gusto energy. It has been gaining popularity over recent years with DJs and is a sure-fire, get-out-of-jail dancefloor saver. On the flip, we find another biggy from Os Panteras, 'Lambada Pauleira’. Also released on Gravasom Records, but a year later in 1987. It is best known for Joutro Mundo's fine re-edit of the track, but here we have it in its original form and with all its quirky brilliance. It is easy to see why, over the years, it has been a staple of some of Brazil's finest DJs’ sets, such as Augusto Olivani (aka Trepanado). We are super happy to once again present these two red-hot tracks back-to-back.

For number 93 in the Brazil45 series, we presented two favourites from the Harmony Cats. A female vocal quintet (who later became a trio) from São Paulo. They formed in 1976 and were most prolific in the disco period.

'Harmony Cats' Theme' from 1976 is probably the group’s best-known track outside of Brazil. Owing a lot to Rhythm Heritage's version of 'Barretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)’ its wonderfully spacey breakbeat and percussive production with lush, floaty vocals makes it a real crossover classic record.

'Seja Como Nos (De Pe No Chao)' is instantly recognisable. Tucked away on the B-side of their 1979 single 'Tem Dinheiro Nisso' on Young Records, it is a beast of a cover version of The Jacksons' classic ' Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)'. Nothing subtle or sophisticated here. Just a song of pure disco joy, enhanced with awesome Brazilian production and the Cats' trademark vocal arrangements. A get-of-jail-free card for any DJ that finds themselves stuck with an empty dancefloor, but also one that will put smiles on the faces of the more discerning leftfield club crowds.

For number 83 in the Brazil 45 series, we pulled out a real treat. It features two tracks from Roberto De Melo Santos. Born in 1949 in Recife (Brazil), and despite a small discography, he is considered among the true icons of Brazilian soul music under his artist alias, Di Melo.

His self-titled debut album from 1975 has long been collectible for its irresistible Brazilian-funk sound, pleasing the Brazilian, B-Boy breaks, funk collectors, and sample hunters alike. With original copies for the album now fetching crazy sums, we felt these tracks needed another moment in the sun for all to enjoy.

For this release we selected two of our favourite cuts from this cult album, ‘Kilariô' and ‘Pernalonga'. Coincidentally these two gems were released on Odeon Records in 1975 as a rare promo campacto (a Brazilian 7", which plays at 33rpm). 'Kilariô' is a pure Brazilian-soul classic. All the right elements gel together, whilst Di Melo works his relaxed vocal magic over the top. ‘Pernalonga', with its catchy guitar and horns intro, loose break-beat drum, has the feel-good factor which some may recognize as one of the samples behind N.A.S.A featuring David Byrne, & Chali 2na's 'The People Tree' from 2009.

Di Melo is still recording to this day, releasing an album with Cotonete on Favorite Recordings in 2019 - a true don.

You know it's going to be a heavy record when DJ / collector Mr Thing asks you to keep a look out for a copy on your next digging trip to Brazil. Add on top of that, being sampled by Madlib on the track 'Curls’ on his Madvillain album!

Taken from Waldir Calmon's 'Waldir Calmon E Seus Multisons' album on Copacabana (1970), from looking at this unassuming record cover featuring a middle-aged man sporting an impressive pair of glasses you wouldn't expect it to become the fabric to one of the songs from the iconic 'Madvillain’ album. But… like many things in life, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. 'Airport Love Theme’, like its name suggests, falls into full-on lounge territory. It is feel-good music made to be the soundtrack for a utopian world that never really was. Yet behind the silky-smooth groove is an addictive earworm waiting to be heard.

'Afro Som' taken from the same album, pushes things in a different direction towards a sound that is more firmly rooted in the Brazilian tradition. This quirky 60's-breakbeat-funk groove is reminiscent of French artist Jean Jacques Perrey's 'E.V.A.', also from 1970, in its melody and backbeat, where the Moog synthesizer of Perrey is replaced with a more orchestrated sound by Calmon. This track is magical, cinematic and breakbeat-laden with a hidden unknown exoticism.

Waldir Calmon had an active career in music working from the '50s right up until his passing in 1982. His career started early, forming his first ensemble at the age of fourteen, originally working in bands in nightclubs and writing jingles. He progressed in the early '50s to a long-running career working in television. In addition to his television work, he had success with his recording vocation, mixing in the same musical circles as greats such as Tom Jobi, João Gilberto and Doris Monteiro.

Double vinyl LP pressing. New Edition's career-spanning collection showcases 17 essential R&B hits. This latest compilation includes all their major hits from their MCA era, such as "Can You Stand the Rain," "Mr. Telephone Man," "If It Isn't Love," and "Cool It Now."

Galaxy Sound Co. hits 40 releases deep with yet another buy-on-sight 7". This latest entry into the Sample Series kicks off with an edit of 'Lovely Is Today' by Eddie Harris from his 1968 album Plug Me In. It's steeped in delightfully conversational saxophone with rousing chords dancing beneath in a swinging 60s fashion. A real classy gem. On the flip, 'September 13' by Deodato gets reworked and is from his self-titled jazz-funk album. This one is more funky and it's led by some big, proud horn stabs and silky drum rumbles enriched with great synths. Another vital 45 from this fine label.

Galaxy Sound Co is back with some subtle but sublime new edits, and this time Mr Thelonious turns his hand to 'Soul Town' by The Motherhood from their psychedelic 1969 album I Feel So Free. If you can find this one n 45rpm anywhere it will likely have a high three-figure price tag and this edit is a great alternative with big horn energy and rousing soul-funk grooves. On the flip is 'Pinball 6' which was originally by The Pointer Sisters and made famous for its appearance on Sesame Street in the 1970s when it was used as backing music to the famous segment that taught children how to count. It's an electric bit of jazz-funk that still sounds most excellent.

Disco holy grail on maxi!

Experience the disco magic with Aura's "Freex / Last Stop" vinyl reissue. Limited edition with hand-numbered copies, officially licensed. This holy grail features the remastered tracks "Freex 12" mix" and "Last Stop".

A Willed and Conscious Balance is the first album of material arranged for an ensemble by multi-instrumentalist composer Tomin Perea-Chamblee.The bulk of the album was recorded in one day at The Bunker in Brooklyn, NY by IARC house engineers Dave Vettraino and David Allen, and features a truly incredible lineup that includes members of Irreversible Entanglements and jaimie branch"s FLY or DIE. Tomin"s work with this group of veteran musicians is singular though, instantly setting this material apart from the discographies of its contributors.

A Willed and Conscious Balance is the first album of material arranged for an ensemble by multi-instrumentalist composer Tomin Perea-Chamblee.The bulk of the album was recorded in one day at The Bunker in Brooklyn, NY by IARC house engineers Dave Vettraino and David Allen, and features a truly incredible lineup that includes members of Irreversible Entanglements and jaimie branch"s FLY or DIE. Tomin"s work with this group of veteran musicians is singular though, instantly setting this material apart from the discographies of its contributors.