Hi friends!
Can you believe it's already been a year? More Music, Less Words has been serving up some sweet tunes, now with a fresh new look represented by the Recordboy:
The tireless Recordboy will continue his record round, delivering fine music to every corner of the globe every Friday, but now he’ll also be all over Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. So stay tuned for more updates and plenty of good music in those channels!
Thanks for rocking with me this past year ☺️
This week’s 5 selections are:
Silent - Glenn Underground (Unified Records / Strictly Jaz Unit Muzic, 2009)
#Deep House
One of my favorite pieces by the Chicagoan founding member of the Strictly Jaz Unit. Deeply rooted in disco and jazz, he uses to ace the deep jazzy house formula, with soulful melodies and percussive afro rhythms ready for the club. Although this gem was only reissued on CD in 2009 and 2012, Groovin’ Recordings released four tracks from the album in 2019. Here's hoping for a full LP release soon!
Dance Inna London / All the Pieces EP - Nubiyan Twist (Wormfood, 2017)
#Dancehall #Future Jazz
I’m still hooked on this EP by Nubiyan Twist, a key player in the new UK Jazz movement, released 7 years ago. Their music fuses jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, latin, soul, reggae, and dance. In “Dance Inna London,” they put their spin on Super Cat’s classic 1982 dancehall track “Dance Inna New York,” featuring both Super Cat and Nubiya Brandon on vocals. Don't miss out on the remixes—they're fantastic too!
El Malo - Willy Colón (Fania Records, 1967)
#Salsa #Boogaloo #Cha-Cha #Guaguancó #Son Montuno #Latin Jazz
Recorded at just sixteen, Colón's trombone echoed strongly through the streets of the Bronx. The police would arrive to confiscate their instruments for "disturbing the peace." But like clockwork, they'd return the very next day. Music became their tool for civil disobedience, salsa their chosen way of rebellion. With vocals from legends like Héctor Lavoe, Yayo El Indio, and Elliot Romero, the album captures the pulse of immigrant life and defiance against discrimination that birthed New York salsa. El Malo embodies the struggle of a community through a fusion of different music styles, rebelliously reshaping the genre of salsa.
Attica Blues - Attica Blues (Mo Wax, 1997)
#Trip Hop #Downtempo
In 1997, DJ Charlie Dark released his debut album three years after venturing into music production, collaborating with producer Tony Nwachukwu and singer Roba El-Essawy in London. This record played a crucial role in establishing Mo Wax as a leader in Trip Hop, or Alternative Hip Hop (as Charlie probably prefers). Despite falling short of the band's expectations, the album remains a gem cherished by collectors and serves as a blueprint for today's producers. With beats that flirt with jazz, their intricate complexity will be a delight for the real heads!
Midnight Sugar - Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio (Three Blind Mice, 1974)
#Jazz #Post-Bop
Frequently reissued on vinyl and never on streaming platforms (except for its title track), Midnight Sugar will be your Sunday’s final treat, satisfying your craving for sweetness after a long weekend. Interestingly, its reissues often come in audiophile versions, which speaks to the quality of the material. Three Blind Mice has always maintained a reputation for top-notch recordings at every stage of the process. Relax and make a space for Tsuyoshi’s piano next to you—it will feel just like he is there.
That was all for this week. I hope you liked the selections :D
Stay groovy,
Dudier