Jazz de Ville

RIP Jules Deelder

Dutch poet, personality, jazz connaisseur Jules Deelder died today at the age of 75. Rest in Peace!

Rita Hovink - Love Me Or Leave Me

Back by dope demand. The much sought-after album Love Me Or Leave Me by dutch singer Rita Hovink has been repressed for a second time. We understand why.

BBE staff selections

London based label BBE releases every year a compilation of their staffs favorite tunes of the year. Again this is a selection of superb tunes. Check!

Jon Batiste - Chronology of a Dream

The inimitable musician and bandleader, Jon Batiste, just released Chronology Of A Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard on November 1. Recorded during his six-night residency in the fall of 2018, the live album is a follow up to his recent critically acclaimed release, Anatomy of Angels: Live at the Village Vanguard, and is part two of the two-part series. 

Anatomy of Angels and Chronology of a Dream are two sides of the same coin. Batiste explains, "My compositions on Chronology focus on thematic development within short form structures with memorable melodic themes, while Angels focuses on thematic development within longer form structures that are built for deconstruction, never to be played the same way twice."

Adam Deitch Quartet - Egyptian Secrets

Adam Deitch reportedly took five years to make his new jazz album, yet most of the tracks were recorded in just one or two takes, without effects or other post-production. Why it took so long, then, is a valid question. The only plausible answer is that the drummer for Lettuce and Break Science, and generally a very busy guy who does whole bunch of other stuff, just really wanted to get it right. And he did— each track on this quartet session, which also includes a core band of Wil Blades on Hammond organ plus Lettuce saxophonist Ryan Zoidis and Lettuce trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom, is masterfully conceived and performed, yet feels raw and natural, devoid of the sparkly touches that mar so many recordings made by finnicky perfectionists. Egyptian Secrets could have been recorded live in a local bar—it’s the sound of a working band—and that’s a good thing. Deitch dedicates the collection to Idris Muhammad, the late New Orleans-born drummer whose funky beats helped bridge the gap between jazz, funk and R&B in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Deitch, too, relishes making connections, evident on tracks like the opening “Dot Org,” which finds the quartet paying homage to the classic soul-jazz of the Muhammad era while staying entirely rooted in the contemporary world. A few tracks add the guitar of John Scofield to the mix, among them the scorching “Art Bar,” the very definition of a funky good time.

Al Kent - Disco Demands Part 6

Al Kent, Scotland’s foremost Disco aficionado and founder of the Million Dollar Orchestra, returns to BBE Music with a 6th volume of his famed ‘Disco Demands’ compilation series. 

With all previous editions of ‘Disco Demands’ released as CDs on Al’s ‘Million Dollar Disco’ label, in 2012 we were delighted to release ‘The Best Of Disco Demands‘ across two glorious double vinyl albums. Taking the next step on the ‘Disco Demands’ journey in partnership, Volume 6 sees another incredible selection of obscure dance-floor soul selected and edited by Al Kent, fully licensed from the original artists, remastered and ready for a new generation of fans to discover.

Recorded during the late 70s and early 80s, the records chosen for Disco Demands Part Six may be hard to find, but don’t be confused: they have been selected solely for maximum dance-floor enjoyment. Al’s love of powerful string arrangements and bass-line led grooves are evident not only in his picks, but also in his subtle edits; removing a hint of cheese here, extending a particularly effective instrumental section there. 

“Most of the tracks I’ve chosen for this album have been with me for some time – I’ve played them on and off as a DJ for years. And though that might seem like a lazy or selfish option when compiling an album, it also fits nicely with the concept that the album is primarily aimed at DJs and dancers. I’ve seen first hand how a crowd reacts to these choices. I’ve bought the records, rearranged the best bits and tested them on a room full of dancing drunks so you can confidently do the same…” – Al Kent, 2019 

Space Invadas - Soul:Fi

Space Invadas is a project of two well-known artists: Katalyst and Steve Spacek. Katalyst is the Sydney based producer Ashley Anderson of international acclaim. All of his solo releases have been nominated for ARIA Awards in Australia and there’s a strong fan base established for his work worldwide. He also runs the Invada label in Australia with Portishead’s Geoff Barrow. 
Steve Spacek originates from London landed in Sydney via LA. He has worked with the likes of J Dilla, Mos Def, Slum Village, Common and many more. He is likened to classic soul singers Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye and has been championed by everyone from Entertainment Weekly to Mos Def. 
Space Invadas album Soul-Fi is receiving rave reviews and airplay from tastemakers around the globe as well as having 4 singles smashed on national radio in Australia where the record has been released earlier this year. The album is being championed abroad by likes of Gilles Peterson on BBC1, Garth Trinidad on KCRW in LA, Tyler Askew in NYC, Andrew Jervis (Ubiquity) in San Fran to name just a few. Getting much love in the US and throughout Europe where the record is yet to be released via BBE Records. Looks like it's going to be a big year ahead for Space Invadas. 
In Australia, Space Invadas have had the cover of most of the nations street press and have been critically acclaimed in all the broadsheets. They have also been nominated for an ARIA Award (Australian Grammys or Mercury awards) for best Urban Release in 2010. 

Sefi Zisling

Inspired by his childhood heroes of John Coltrane, Grant Green and Fred Wesley, ‘Expanse’ combines the sounds of afro-jazz, psychedelic funk and spiritual jazz to create an album that echoes the great creators of Alice Coltrane, Fela Kuti and Donald Byrd, while paving a new path – all catalysed through the trumpet. Recorded as a collaborative live session with all of Sefi’s close and talented friends, including live members: Omri Shani (bass), Tom Bollig (drums), Noam Havkin (drums) and long-time collaborators: Idan Kupferberg (percussion), Uzi Ramirez (guitar), Yair Slutzki (trombone), ‘Expanse’ captures the essence of the classic jazz sessions, committed to the outcome – mistakes and spontaneous moments included.

Montis, Goudsmit & Directie

Just released this album by Dutch groovers Anton Goudsmit (guitar), Frank Montis (hammond) and Cyril Directie (drums). Party!

Release tour:

5 dec: Paradiso, Amsterdam 

10 jan: Paradox, Tilburg 

14 mrt: Amer, Amen 

10 apr: Jazzzolder, Mechelen 

11 april: Vorstin, Hilversum 

17 apr: Victorie, Alkmaar 

18 apr: Mezz, Breda

Slum Village x Abstract Orchestra 'Fantastic 2020 Vol.2

No word. Just listen!

Blue Note at Sea 2020

Blue Note at Sea will return in 2020 with a fantastic program including Robert Glasper, Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, Melody Bardot, David Sanborn and much more.

Moonchild - Little Ghost European Tour

Following the release of their highly anticipated album ‘Little Ghost’, Moonchild head out to Europe in 2020, having previously played sold out shows across the continent. With a unique style of alternative R&B, soul and new-school jazz that has cemented their spot in today’s music scene, the extraordinary tour will feature new music from the band.

Tour dates:

30 JAN   Nalen Klubb, Stockholm, Sweden

01 FEB   Clamores, Madrid, Spain

02 FEB   La Nau, Barcelona, Spain

03 FEB   Le Rocher De Palmer, Bordeaux, France

05 FEB   Kaufleuten Festsaal, Zurich, Switzerland

07 FEB   Boogaloo, Zagreb, Croatia

08 FEB   Porgy & Bess, Vienna, Austria

10 FEB   Private Club, Berlin, Germany

12 FEB   Doornroosje (Small Hall), Nijmegen, Holland

13 FEB   Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam, Holland

14 FEB   Bird, Rotterdam, Holland

15 FEB   La Maroquinerie, Paris, France

17 FEB   Patterns, Brighton, UK

18 FEB   Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK

19 FEB   Scala, London, UK

21 FEB   Biko Club, Milan, Italy

22 FEB   Alcazar, Rome, Italy

Footprints Festival

Na een uitverkochte editie in januari 2019 is Footprints in 2020 terug voor haar tweede editie! Tijdens het festival worden traditionele en moderne geluiden vermengd met invloeden uit verre windstreken. Het programma volgt de voetsporen die ons van het bekende pad wegleiden, en naar een plek brengen waar avontuurlijke muziek alle ruimte krijgt.

Ook dit jaar reizen artiesten uit alle hoeken van de wereld af naar Utrecht voor Footprints Festival. Van Engeland, Frankrijk en Polen tot Algerije, Bahrein en India: alle acts verwerken verschillende roots, invloeden en technieken in hun werk, resulterend in prikkelende, dansbare en horizon verbredende muziek.

Capetown International Jazz Festival

Cape Town International Jazz festival celebrates it's 20th! edition on March 29 and 30

Jazzahead Bremen

Leopolis Jazz Fest

Montreux Jazz

No text needed ;-)

North Sea Jazz festival 2020

The annual biggest jazz festival in Holland. Do we need to say more?