Various
Napoli Segreta Volume 2

Hailing from the hills of Montmartre (Paris) the man behind Soul Sugar, Guillaume "Gee" Metenier, is regarded as one of Europe's most prolific keyboard players. His passion for the Hammond B3 has led him to study under the guidance of legendary Jazz master Dr. Lonnie Smith. The heavily vintage sound is no coincidence, as other classic keyboards like the Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, or Minimoog round out his studio arsenal. His influences include a vast heritage of Soul and Jazz greats such as Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Booker T, Art Neville, or Reggae legends Jackie Mitoo and Augustus Pablo."Gee" was an integral part of Electronic outfit, Seven Dub, which gained certain notoriety in the emerging French scene in the late 90s, releasing a number of singles and albums as well as remixes for artists such as Femi Kuti, King Tubby vs. Horace Andy, and Sly & Robbie, to name a few. As a musician, Guillaume has collaborated with the likes of The Last Poets, Alain Bashung, Kid Loco, Grant Phabao, Gizelle Smith, The Mighty Mocambos, Blundetto and many more. He also released a handful of notable singles as Soul Sugar, such as "Ritual" (Mocambo Records), "East Of The River Nile" or "Why Can't We Live Together" (Gee Recordings), and an album called Nothing But The Truth (Freestyle Records).The latest outing from Soul Sugar, Chase The Light, is a fusion of roots Reggae, Psychedelic Soul and Funk grooves, showcasing heavy instrumentals and powerful songs. Recorded in France and Kingston (Jamaica) with Yvo Abadi on drums, drummer dubmaster Jahno, and guitarist extraordinaire Thomas Naim, with vocals by Courtney John, who's falsetto stylings and lyrical poetry features on two tracks (one including a special appearance by Dr Lonnie Smith) and Leonardo Carmichael, over a heavy riddim revision of the classic "Why Can't We Live Together". The analog production delivers solidly, taking no prisoners and keeping the groove alive, the whole collection of tracks simply rocks... Chase The Light brings together a bombastic blend of timeless sounds, highest level of cool for impeccable taste. CD comes with bonus dub versions of all the tracks.

10 years that The Rongetz Foundation is hanging around the five boroughs. 10 years of wonderful jazz tainted recordings (with: Gary Bartz, Gregory Porter, Corey Fonville, Ronnie Cuber to name a few) “stained” with the grit of soul and funk music that Rongetz (aka Stephane Ronget) likes to bring to the table.This album, Alphabet City Music Club is a marvelous example of that stylish balance established in between, raw and sophisticated feel. The place of the recording first, Alphabet City, a genuine inner town in Manhattan that was for long time defined like this: “Avenue A, you're Alright. Avenue B, you're Brave. Avenue C, you're Crazy. Avenue D, you're Dead”.Then the two sessions that are part of the album: One very much jazz-funk oriented with Corey Fonville (Drums), Corcoran Holt (Acc. Bass), Mathis Picard (all Keys), Morgan Guerin (Tenor sax. / EWI), Erena Terakubo (Alto sax. / Flute). The other one spreading soul music all around with: Homer Steinweiss (Drums), Jeremy Kay (Bass), Kyle Koehler (Organ), Morgan Guerin (tenor sax).The two sessions, ultimately coming together with the help of talented young vocalists: Alina Engibaryan (Snarky Puppy), Vuyo Sotashe, Vanisha Gould, Lewis Parker, or Mr Day.Mix all those elements in a rusty blender and you will enjoy the bootleg Bourbon, hard shake that is Alphabet City Music Club.

** Available exclusively at The Pusher **Comet Records present the first release out of the Comet new reissue series with this cult French Free Jazz LP from 1974, Crowded with Loneliness by Full Moon Ensemble was produced by Claude Delcloo, check the classic ‘Samba `Miaou’, like a lost Pharoah Sanders tune mixed with politically-engaged French poetry! The whole LP is varied, avant-garde and spiritual and now available as Vinyl LP with Gatefold cover, set to become collectible as the original is impossible to find.

** Not available for Italy & UK **Unconscious Collective is the first album by PS5, the new ensemble led by Pietro Santangelo (Nu Guinea, Slivovitz, Fitness Forever) - and it will be out for Hyperjazz Records on 21st May 2021. It’s a further step in the label’s path in trying to connect the musical tradition of South Italy, the love for African-American music, and new ways of expression. ‘Unconscious Collective’ is a musical experiment where layered memories and hidden feelings resonate as if they arise directly from the most recondite part of the unconscious, suspending the stream of consciousness. With the aim to create a state of trance and override the human reason, this is an imaginary round trip across the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, ideally connecting Naples with Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The arrangements wrote by Santangelo are based on great freedom of improvisation: while the melodic textures of the two saxophones didn’t give any clear references, the other musicians followed the rhythmic pulse and its unpredictable ways. The music moves naturally along an imaginary line highlighting the ancestral connection between Jamaica and Ethiopia or between Nigeria and Cuba. In the background, Naples is a synthesis of all the sonic ingredients, mixed and cooked in its own mystical and spicy belly.Besides Santangelo himself on the tenor and soprano saxophones, the collective is made up of: Paolo Bianconcini, a brilliant Neapolitan percussionist with a very deep Afro-Cuban background; Giuseppe Giroffi, young and talented alto, and baritone saxophonist; the bassist Vincenzo Lamagna and the drummer Salvatore Rainone, both loyal members of the former Santangelo’s trio.Recorded live at the Auditorium Novecento in Naples, the legendary studio of Phonotype Records, Unconscious Collective is mixed in analog format by Fabrizio Piccolo and mastered by Davide Barbarulo at his 20Hz20KHz Studio.

Favorite Recordings presents this new official album reissue of The Parker Brothers: Maybe one of the best Blue-Eyed-Soul/Modern-Soul private-press albums you can imagine, surprisingly highly unknown and underrated.Produced in 1981 by George P Grexa and released in a private-press version on his label Crown Vetch Enterprises, this album is filled with memorable material from the first note to the last, mixing Modern-Soul, Boogie, cross-over Jazz and Rock elements, for a result reminiscent of the WestCoast music’ golden years, however being recorded in Pittsburgh.As one of the longtime favorite collectable piece for Charles Maurice, it’s a real honor and proud for Favorite Recordings, to finally officially reissue it from the original master tapes and for the first time on vinyl.