Hi friends!
This week’s 5 selections are:
Strength In Numbers - Patrick Gibin (Mother Tongue Records, 2024)
#Broken Beat #Deep House #Boogie
Mother Tongue founder Patrick Gibin returns in style with Strength In Numbers, his first album. Released in December, it bursts with the label’s signature funk, lifted by Kaidi Tatham’s broken-beat wizardry and Sandra St. Victor’s soulful touch. Expect jazz-infused dancefloor energy, warm pianos, swirling synth chords, and organic percussion, all igniting a groove-packed vibe. It’s a potent blend of future-facing sounds that feels both familiar and really fresh.
In The Dark - Roy Ayers (Columbia / CBS, 1984)
#Soul-Jazz #Disco
In The Dark has been my go-to Roy Ayers LP over the last years, equally at home during a laid-back lunch with friends or spinning as a club warm up. Even when he dipped into that 80s commercial lane, his signature funk, jazzy flow, and soulful warmth stayed intact. It’s close, personal, and bursting with Roy’s unmistakable groove. What more can you ask for?
Além Do Horizonte - Erasmo Carlos e Tim Maia (Polydor, 1980)
#MPB
“Além Do Horizonte” by Erasmo Carlos and Tim Maia is a top-tier MPB collaboration, arranged by Lincoln Olivetti, Brazil’s “mago do pop.” Their vocals glide smoothly beyond the horizon, radiating a festive, sun-kissed vibe that calls to mind sipping a caipirinha by the beach. It’s vibrant and freeing —pure Brazilian warmth wrapped into one joyful track.
Hard Luck Soul - Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble (Aragorn, 1972)
#Soul-Jazz #Hard Bop
I stumbled onto Hard Luck Soul at Wax Poetics Vol 2, Issue 4, drawn in by its remarkable origin—recorded within the Ohio Penitentiary in ’72. The Ohio Penitentiary 511 Jazz Ensemble blends hard bop, Latin flair, and spiritual jazz into a raw yet uplifting brew. Arranged by Logan Rollins, each track reveals the tension and hope of life behind bars, proving that music can break chains far beyond prison walls.
Kiss The Sky - Kiss The Sky (Motown, 1992)
#Downtempo #R&B
Kiss The Sky’s self-titled release sees keyboardist Paul Hardcastle teaming up with singer Jaki Graham under this breezy pseudonym. Jaki’s gracious vocals sometimes recall Sade—especially in the chorus of “Livin 4 You,” where Paul cleverly samples Minnie Ripperton’s “Lovin’ You.” The atmosphere lands in Café del Mar territory, making it a perfect choice to unwind with after a busy week.
That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed the selections.
Have a great weekend!
Stay groovy,
Dudier
