Dodo Marmarosa
Dodo's Back

Phil Ranelin's first record as a leader differs from his later, 1976 offering, 'Vibes From the Tribe'. 'The Time Is Now' is full of the spirit, determination, and innovation inspired by John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Cecil Taylor, Pharoah Sanders, and Archie Shepp. Recorded in 1973 and 1974 (and released at the end of 1974), the set shows Ranelin to be an imposing composer and adept trombonist. The original album contained six compositions that are a deep musical brew of avant-garde improvisation, hard bop jazz esthetics, and soulful melodic ideas that were superimposed as a jump off point for both harmonic and rhythmic invention - the sound of Detroit! Lacquered directly from his master tapes in an all analog transfer by Bernie Grundman.Included in an extensive, oversized booklet, Larry Gabriel and Jeff “Chairman” Mao take us through the history of the Tribe, in a compelling story that delves not just into the history of the label and its principals, but into the story of Black American empowerment in the latter half of the 20th Century. The booklet features never-before-seen archival photos and rare ephemera from Tribe’s mid-1970s heyday.

Loneos Editions present a reissue of Embryo's Rache, originally released in 1971. The second album by Christian Burchard and alumni Embryo was released in 1971 on the prestigious United Artists imprint, only a year after their debut. A significantly progression and the first venture in the realm of the ethnic/world-rock fusion that would come to be their trademark. The gang from Munich flew over a series of packed jam showing their authentic passion for the Middle East. Combining a series of progressive numbers, still miles away from their British counterpart, the band opened up for a series of transcendental and wicked numbers, pushing the boundaries of the '70s counterculture. While it was some eastern-blues rapture or a post-Coltrane collage in the vein of the classy melody of A Love Supreme (1965), the band built his foundation while facing an ancient future. That was the beginning of a whole era where freedom was the keyword. Reissue on 180g black vinyl with gatefold sleeve.

2a023 sees trumpeter, friend and long-time label affiliate Nick Walters bring his Paradox Ensemble back to life with the mini-album 'Awakening'. The thirteen piece ensemble combine spiritual and eastern jazz moods with West African rhythms across four extended tracks. Limited one-off pressing, manufactured at Optimal, Germany.Channelling the spirit of Woody Shaw, Charles Mingus and absent friends the band features some familiar faces such as Ed Cawthorne (aka Tenderlonious) on tenor sax and flute, Aidan Shepherd (Ruby Rushton) on accordion and synth, and of course the incomparable Nick Walters (Ruby Rushton & Riot Jazz) on trumpet and synths.Nick Walters is arguably one of the most underrated musicians in the UK jazz scene. This project on 22a, which is entirely composed and arranged by him and featuring a roster of unbelievably talented musicians, will hopefully change this. He has dedicated this record to the memory of Oli Coles and Becky Dykes.

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.