Jazz /
Powerhouse
A bold new spotlight shines on the classic 1971 release Powerhouse by celebrated organist Chester Thompson—an album that captures the pulse of its time with fire, finesse, and unmistakable soul. Released in 1971, Powerhouse remains a standout work in Thompson’s discography, drawing listeners into a world where groove, grit, and melodic imagination collide.
From the first notes, Powerhouse delivers an electrifying blend of organ-driven energy and captivating musical momentum. Thompson’s masterful…
The Skipper at Home
Henry Franklin is set to release *The Skipper At Home*, a bold new musical journey arriving on **[Release Date]**. The album blends intimate storytelling with adventurous grooves, drawing listeners into a world where humor meets heart, and every track feels like a destination.
With *The Skipper At Home*, Henry Franklin crafts a sound that’s both reflective and kinetic—layered arrangements, memorable melodies, and a distinct voice that moves effortlessly between the personal and the playful. From…
Rock Joint Cither – Silk Road
*Warehouse Find !!!* After the space-time experience and the translation into music of the Bible of Japanese civilization, the Fulukotofumi, the following year, in 1973, Hiromasa Suzuki pushes his research and experimentation beyond the borders of his own country by venturing, with the usual companions of adventure (Kunimitsu Inaba, Hideo Sekine, etc.), along the lights and shadows of the Silk Road. A backward journey in search of the musical and cultural sources of mainland Asia, from the gates…
Rock Joint Biwa
*Warehouse Find !!!* The Fulukotofumi is the most important and ancient historical chronicle of Japan. The content of this work becomes an inspiration for the creation of a sound transposition of the legends and myths that most marked the spirit and inspiration of Hiromasa Suzuki, as a musician and as a high-level composer. The music that is concentrated between these grooves is a representation of the best that moved in the early seventies in the jazz-rock orbit at an international level; in ad…
Sangam & Friends
Charles Lloyd pays homage to his dear friend and longtime collaborator Zakir Hussain with the July 24 release of Sangam & Friends, an extraordinary document of the deep musical affinity between the legendary saxophonist/flutist and tabla master along with their Sangam trio mate drummer Eric Harland. The album is built around studio recordings made in Mumbai in 2009 for an album that was begun but never completed featuring an expanded ensemble with Carnatic singer Vijay Prakash, Rakesh Chaurasia …
Jazz Dari Angkasapuri
Habibi Funk’s new sister label Audible Beauty Records second release: A landmark collection retelling the untold story of Malaysian jazz featuring 9 songs from the legendary composer, arranger and trumpet player Johari Salleh. Salleh played a crucial role in shaping the sound of modern Malaysian music across radio, television, film and live performance and has composed dozens of popular songs in his decades long career. His personal musical passion always was jazz, reflected in this deep selecti…
Hip Seagull
This is both a blueprint and a definitive masterpiece. Effortlessly transcending eras and genres, Terumasa Hino continues to captivate audiences around the world. His sound and presence are truly top of the tops. Long before Japanese jazz was labeled as “Wa-Jazz”, and even before the rare groove movement emerged, Hip Seagull has been shaking dance floors, stimulating listeners, and fascinating collectors alike. Since his debut album Alone, Alone and Alone, Terumasa Hino has remained at the foref…
The Kid!
Harold Ousley’s The Kid! is a superb example of early-1970s soul-jazz and jazz-funk, putting the spotlight on the saxophonist’s distinctive tone and commanding presence. From the first notes, the album radiates energy and character, marrying dynamic phrasing with a deeply confident sense of swing.
The record thrives on infectious grooves, a tightly locked rhythm section, and spirited improvisation that keeps the music moving at every turn. Seamlessly blending the worlds of jazz, funk, and soul, …
J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan 1970-1988 Volume 5
BBE Music’s celebrated J Jazz compilation series reaches its fifth and final volume in early 2026, culminating in a track list that maintains the exceptionally high standard first set with volume one back in 2018. This final volume features a selection of tracks that is as diverse as it is deep, reflecting the rich and varied Japanese jazz scene that spanned from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, a golden era of innovation and creativity. J Jazz volume 5 sees compilers Tony Higgins and Mike Pede…
Soul Makossa
Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango is a groundbreaking Afro-funk and jazz-fusion record that blends hypnotic African rhythms, funky basslines, soulful horns, and dance-oriented grooves with makossa, a traditional Cameroonian style. Centered around Dibango’s warm saxophone playing and infectious percussion, the album became hugely influential in the development of disco and world music, especially through the iconic title track “Soul Makossa”, whose famous vocal chant was later echoed by artists like M…
La Banda
Soul, jazz-rock, candombe and funk blend in the cocktail of La Banda's first and sole album. Often regarded as Argentina's first supergroup, the ensemble built a reputation on their explosive live performances during a time of political repression. Short-lived but unforgettable, the six-piece brought together top-tier jazz musicians—five Argentinians alongside Uruguayan icon Rubén Rada—to deliver a deep, hard-hitting sound that resonates far beyond its era. Rada arrived in Buenos Aires bruised —…
Our Time
Killer jazz-funk from Japan here! Since turning professional in 1960, guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto had been active in many sessions and recordings. From the latter half of the 1960s, he joined groups with Hideo Shiraki, Akira Ishikawa, and Terumasa Hino, gaining attention in the scene, and also solidifying his position with his albums as a leader, such as the magnificent “Country Dream” in 1970 and “Babylonia Wind” in 1972. “Our Time” was recorded with Akira Ishikawa on drums, Hiromasa Suzuki on e…
One More
Skilled guitar dances over the ultimate groove by Marcus Miller and Omar Hakim. This important Japanese fusion album was recorded by guitarist Kiyoshi Sugimoto, who was extremely busy at the time as a first-call musician, together with Marcus Miller, Omar Hakim, and Warren Bernhardt, who were in Japan for Kazumi Watanabe’s "To Chi Ka" tour. The lively playing of Marcus Miller, then 21 years old and just before being discovered by Miles Davis, is a must-hear.
Firebird
*2026 stock* Saxophonist Kenji Mori belongs to the second generation of TBM regulars, a player whose work for the label spans several years and several formats, but whose quartet records have a particularly distilled quality. Firebird fits cleanly into the modal and post-bop tradition that defined the heart of the Three Blind Mice catalogue: heads with real melodic substance, harmonic openness that gives the soloists space without leaving them stranded, and a rhythm section that knows how to kee…
Funky Stuff
*2026 much needed repress!!* "Written and arranged by Hiromasa Suzuki, and originally released in 1975 on Nippon Columbia, this album is incredible, and truly well-named - funky stuff, indeed! Fat bass, a great variety of guitar sounds, horns and organ, and crisp drums: this is an instant favorite! From the end of the 1960s, saxophonist Jiro Inagaki led groups such as The Soul Mates, and His Black Rhythm Machine, blasting down the jazz rock road before forming Soul Media in 1969. The album Funky…
African Rock
This album is a masterpiece in which the three core pillars of Akira Ishikawa’s musical vision—jazz, rock, and African music—are fused in a sublime and thrilling balance. One arresting track follows another: the solemn and majestic “Prayer”, evoking the eternal land; the clear yet subtly psychedelic “Dawn”; the serene and beautiful “Love”; and the highly dynamic, explosive “Jumbo”. The brilliance of Hirmasa Suzuki’s arrangements deserves special mention—simple yet profoundly deep, they give vivi…
Open Sky Unit
Open Sky Unit capture a warm‑blooded corner of 1970s Belgian jazz where a family of musicians stretches soul songs into jazz‑funk sermons, turning a small Liège club into a glowing, rough‑edged sanctuary.
Searching
*2026 repress* Searching was self-recorded in Ronald’s living room on a 4-Track Tape Recorder in 1984. The recordings symbolise his engagement to cross-over everything that was known to him musically at that time. Most importantly, all recordings reflect his personal way of searching; searching for his own characteristic sound. Rhythmical patterns meet well balanced distortion, shaping the music into a mirror of his character. He was part of several Dutch Latin and Jazz bands, including Cascada …
Skip Step Colgen
Beloved by fans under the nickname “Colgen”, jazz pianist Hiromasa Suzuki released this jazz-funk album in 1977 as part of the high-fidelity Toshiba Pro-Use Series. Now, this sought-after title is being pressed on transparent red vinyl for the first time ever. A favorite among Japanese jazz collectors, the album features a standout cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man,” and continues to gain renewed attention amid the global resurgence of fusion music. This is a must-have piece for fans of …
Did You Tell Your Mother
Released in 1979, Tete Mbambisa's Did You Tell Your Mother delivers the ultimate blend of African groove with American modal grace, making it one of the all-time classic albums of South African jazz. With Mbambisa presenting original compositions at the piano alongside Basil "Mannenberg" Coetzee on tenor sax and flute, the acoustic quartet featured here is rounded out by Zulu Bidi from the band Batsumi on bass locking in with Dollar Brand drummer Monty Weber. This 2026 reissue presents a flat tr…