Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
Whatever It's Worth

The Brkn Record is a new project led and produced by Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bass player for the UK’s foundational deep jazz outfit the Heliocentrics. With fellow Heliocentrics co-founder and legendary drummer Malcolm Catto, Ferguson has been a regular collaborator with globally recognised artists including Archie Shepp, Mulatu Astatke, Melvin Van Peebles, Orlando Julius and many others. The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 represents Ferguson’s debut as a bandleader and orchestrator, and manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe. Combining poetry, testimony and song with rich and cinematic backdrops, Ferguson has produced a sui generis sound that conjures flavours of Arthur Verocai, Ennio Morricone, classic library productions, Madlib-style deep-jazz beat science, and psychedelic soul. With bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums, Ferguson draws on their long years of collaborative experience in the Heliocentrics to build an album of striking texture and depth.

Chelsea Wilson is a Melbourne based vocalist, songwriter, broadcaster and producer. Her highly anticipated new album “Chasing Gold” sees Chelsea move into rare-groove territory, fusing her love of early disco, epic pop and jazz. Produced by ARIA nominated composer/ bassist Ross McHenry (The Shaolin Afronauts), the album features lush string orchestration arranged by Ross Irwin (The Bamboos) and backing vocals by Jason Heerah and Thando. The debut single “Real Love” has garnered international airplay including spins on BBC6, Delite Radio, Starpoint, Mi-Soul and Jazz FM in the UK, hitting #12 on the UK Soul Chart.

Gary Chandler (born in 1938) started playing professionally in 1960 in the thriving Columbus Ohio club scene with Hank Marr, Don Patterson and Benny Maupin. He worked in the Motown Revue from 1965-67 and led his own group for over a year. Over the following years Chandler joined the bands of Lou Donaldson & Charles Earland where he remained until the recording of his debut album.Producer Bob Porter, who decided it was time for the skilled trumpeter to make a record in his own right, provided him with an all-star line up of musicians to collaborate on the album. ‘Outlook’ features Idris Muhammad on drums (which means a frenzy of funky JB-influenced over-the-top soul-jazz drumming), on bass is the legendary Gordon Edwards (known for his work with James Brown, Weldon Irvine, Funk Inc., Aretha Franklin, etc.) and on guitar we have Cornell Dupree (you all know his opening riff on the intro of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’). Last but least, we have the percussion duties which are handled by Buddy Caldwell (THE session musician for respected labels such as Prestige and who also collaborated on albums by Ceasar Frazier & Melvin Sparks)… speaking of Ceasar Frazier, he’s also featured on ‘Outlook’ with his trademark organ sound.‘Outlook’ is one long STEAMROLLER groove & one of the true lost soul-jazz-funk classics. Crate diggers and DJs have coveted “Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)” for years, but in truth, damn near every second of the album demands consideration as a sample. All of this is carefully overseen by engineer Rudy Van Gelder & producer Bob Porter (known for their work with Herbie Hancock, Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis…and many others).Gary Chandler’s first (and only) album was originally released in 1972 on Eastbound Records, super rare and fetching large sums on the collectors market, now finally back available as a limited deluxe vinyl edition (500 copies) featuring the original artwork and liner notes.