SOUL UNLIMITED Radioshow 590

A whole series of exciting albums have been released that are worth presenting:
The first new release comes from The Jazz Defenders, a UK jazz band from Bristol. The band has a soft spot for the classic Blue Note jazz sound of the 50s and 60s, which they fuse with their influences from other genres such as hip hop. It’s quite exciting and also very danceable. In my opinion, the Jazz Defenders have released their best album to date with their third album „Memory In Motion“. A great album that you should definitely listen to.
It also features Jose James, an old acquaintance who released his 13th album „1978“ last week. He and his band are back on top form here and I’m really impressed. It’s best to listen for yourself: Two very nice songs from the album are included in this radio show.
Italian-born singer Afra Kane is back with her second album „Could We Be Whole“. It offers a varied and diverse mix of styles from jazz, soul, folk and pop that knows no boundaries and sounds very promising. Very nice! Then it’s on to Kenny Barron, whose wonderful single „The Nearness Of You“ is a great foretaste of his new album „Beyond This Place“, which will be released on May 10. Piano jazz in its most beautiful form. Fittingly, we then hear the Aki Takase Trio with the song „Minerva’s Owl“ from the live album „Song For Hope“, which has been re-released by BBE.
Matthew Hallsal’s meditative spiritual jazz also fits in perfectly. We hear the great title track of his current 12″ EP „Bright Sparkling Light“. It is, as always with Matthew Halsall, great and an unconditional recommendation from me.
Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska has released the excellent album „Altera Vita“ together with tenor saxophonist Toni Kofi. A musical dialog between two very different instruments, which is reduced and very contemplative here. A reset that is urgently needed and also beneficial. Fabulous!
The philharmonic jazz that Cassie Kinoshi presents with her band Seed and the London Contemporary Orchestra on her live-recorded album „Gratitude“ is made for this time of year. Music of blossoming beauty and full of positive energy!
Finnish pianist Olli Ahvenlahti is back with a new album on We Jazz Records. His album „The Poet“, released in the mid-70s, is legendary and the song „Grandma’s Rocking Chair“ is a timeless classic. On the new album „Mirror Mirror“, he can be heard with a new band and some well-known Finnish jazz greats such as trumpeter Jukka Eskola are on board. Musically, Olli Ahvenlahti tries to follow on from the legendary phase of The Poet with Fender Rhodes-driven jazz funk. Definitely a very successful album. Finally, the sounds become a little more experimental and we arrive at Otis Sandsjö’s new album „Y-Otis Tre“. An extraordinary album that is really great and sounds quite exciting! Have fun listening to it!