Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim - Every Moment (2018)

Minji is a pianist, composer, and an instructor who was born in South Korea. She pursued bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music with a Jazz Performance Award, Berklee Achievement Scholarship, and Berklee International Grant. She studied with many brilliant professors including Joanne Brackeen, Alain Mallet, and Ed Tomassi. Minji is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Jazz Performance at New York University while working as an adjunct instructor at NYU. She has recorded/performed with many recognizable musicians including Drew Gress, Alan Ferber, Alex Sipiagin, David Pietro (will perform with Lenny Pickett  on April 27th and Brad Shepik in July). She has released her first debut album, “Every Moment”, on February 2018 under her own recording label with Drew Gress on bass and Jongkuk Kim on drums (featured by Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Dave Pietro on alto sax, and Alan Ferber on trombone). Minji currently is performing at various places and building her musical experiences with many musicians, such as Blue Note, Club Bonafide, ShapeShifter Lab,Tomi Jazz, Loewe Theatre, and James Dolan Studio. She will have her first abroad tour in Costa Rica (“Costa Rica Tour & Clinic) in July 2018 with NYU Group (featured by Brad Shepik).

1. A Big Tree (feat. Alan Ferber) Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim 6:04

2. Light River (feat. Alex Sipiagin & Dave Pietro) Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim 7:09

3. Db Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim 4:53

4. April 29th (feat. Alex Sipiagin, Dave Pietro, Alan Ferber & Songyi Jeon) Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim 6:25

5. Na-Bi Minji Kim & Jongkuk Kim 5:18

6. The Moment (feat. Alex Sipiagin) Minji Kim, Drew Gress & Jongkuk Kim 5:24

7. Yearning Minji Kim & Drew Gress 5:18

Minji Kim on piano

Drew Gress on bass

Jongkuk Kim on drums

Alex Sipiagin on Trumpet (Track 2, 4, 6)

Dave Pietro on Alto Saxophone (Track 2, 4)

Alan Ferber on Trombone (Track 1, 4)

Songyi Jeon on Vocal (Track 4)

Guerino Mazzola & Joomi Park - Passionate Message (SILKHEART RECORDS 2018)

Silkheart Records has previously released two CDs presenting the dynamics of Guerino Mazzola on grand piano and Heinz Geisser on percussion – Folia/The UNAM Concert and Someday respectively. This time we have decided to invest in a new type of dynamics – the one between two improvisional pianists – Guerino Mazzola and Joomi Park. Our decision was based on a concept presented to us by Mazzola and Park to consider: 

« The principal idea for this CD was to set up a profound dialogue of two completely different styles – Joomi’s contemporary music approach to composition and improvisation, versus Guerino’s free jazz improvisation with previously prepared basic materials – and then synthesizing these styles in a shared improvisation on two pianos. 
Our general strategy was to investigate composition by improvisation and also to integrate composition in the improvisational approach. So it was not general free jazz, but the integration of compositional material in improvisation by Guerino and also a synthesis of Joomi’s and Guerino’s soli in a shared improvisation. Here the new music and the free jazz idioms were confronted and merged. Joomi’ and Guerino’s contributions were developed in a prolific discussion in the construction of these musics, meaning that none was an isolated creation but resulted from an intense musical exchange of ideas and performances. »

1. Black Summer (Park) 03:13

2. Black Summer (Mazzola) 03:57

3. Black Summer (Mazzola & Park) 01:44

4. Yesterday (Lennon & McCartney) 04:01

5. Yesterday (Park) 04:32

6. Yesterday (Mazzola & Park) 04:01

7. American Carnival (Park) 06:12

8. American Carnival (Mazzola) 04:58

9. American Carnival (Mazzola & Park) 04:38

10. Joomi's Dance (Park) 04:09

11. Guerino's Dance (Mazzola) 02:10

12. Our Dance (Mazzola & Park) 05:16

Guerino Mazzola grand piano

Joomi Park grand piano

David Binney - Here & Now (July 20, 2018)

Labor of love as all of my projects are. I don't like describing music. This is music. I like it a lot. I sincerely hope that you do too. It's different than some of my other work. This is my first fully Bandcamp release. And there's a lot more where this came from. There will be a more steady release of things in the future. Only digital. There will be no cd's. If you're a fan of my work, the more support I get through Bandcamp, the more work I can do and release. Yes, it really works like that. So get this! And thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart. DB

1. Forj

2. We Will See Our Way Through (feat Louis Cole)

3. To The Coast (feat Jacob Richards and Logan Kane)

4. Here & Now

5. Belgrade (feat Pedja Milutinovic and Logan Kane)

6. Majesty

7. The Boats (feat Pera Krstajic and Jacob Richards)

8. Freeway

9. ForJTwo (Avenija-Pera Krstajic and Pedja Milutinovic)

David Binney - Producer, Compositions, Saxophone, Electronics, Synths, Vocals, Bass, Guitar 

Louis Cole - Drums on Track 2 

Jacob Richards - Drums-Tracks 3,7 

Pedja Milutinovic - Drums tracks 5,9 

Logan Kane - Bass tracks 3,5 

Pera Krstajic - Bass tracks 7,9

Recorded in Los Angeles,New York and Belgrade

Kaidi Tatham - It's A World Before You (2018)

First Word Records is very proud to present a brand new full-length album from Kaidi Tatham. ‘It’s A World Before You’. 

Following on from two EPs released on First Word last year (‘Changing Times’ and ‘Hard Times’), Kaidi has delivered us thirteen tracks that deftly illustrate his various talents as a multi-instrumentalist.

Kaidi is probably best known for his work with Bugz In The Attic, though his musical contributions over the years have also included Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Moonchild, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler, Chris Dave, Macy Gray, King Britt, DJ Spinna, Mr Scruff and IG Culture to name but a few! In recent times, he’s worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff on a variety of projects, including his most recent album ‘M3’, touring Europe for Jeff and Will Smith’s reunion shows, and on the PLAYlist album 'Chasing Goosebumps', with Glenn Lewis, Stro Elliot (The Roots), Masego, Maimouna Youssef, Rich Medina, Daniel Crawford and more. 

All this in addition to heating up dances around Europe with his inimitable DJ sets, and working heavily with First Word label-mate, Eric Lau (who also mixed this album) on a variety of projects, and adding releases to his already impressive catalogue on 2000 Black, Eglo and Theo Parrish's Sound Signature, with regular compadre, Dego (who features on the album’s title track). 

This album personifies Kaidi’s diverse palette of sounds – bar Eric & Dego’s features, every piece of music is played by himself. Largely flowing on a broken beat rhythm section, Kaidi effortlessly incorporates washes of afro, latin and funk throughout. From the harmonics of ‘Your Dream Don’t Mean A Thing’, to the breakneck funk of ‘Outta Audah’, each and every riddim exudes energy. But this isn’t simply a bruk record. The album is laced together with downtempo beats and future jazz interludes throughout, and some sweet synth boogie is never very far away, especially on the weighty vibes of ‘It’s About Who You Know’. To top it all off, there’s two delightful nuggets of hip hop soul - Mancunian label-mates, Children of Zeus, feature on the neo-soul vibes of ‘Out Here On My Own’, and there’s a feature from Amir Townes, better known as Uhmeer - an upcoming MC from Philadelphia, and son of one Jazzy Jeff Townes - who rides a sub-heavy, piano-led slice of boom bap, voicing an assortment of characters to tell the tale of ‘Cupid’. 

‘It’s A World Before You’ is set to cause serious damage to sound-systems over the Summer, and show and prove once again the skills of one of the UK’s best unsung musical talents, Kaidi Tatham.

1. Joyous 04:52

2. Your Dreams Don't Mean A Thing 05:03

3. Sweet Kinch 00:46

4. Cold 05:01

5. Out Here On My Own (ft. Children Of Zeus) 04:14

6. Bien 02:26

7. 2Tone 06:08

8. It's About Who You Know 05:17

9. Outta Audah 02:20

10. Soon Come 00:58

11. It's A World Before You (ft. Dego) 04:57

12. Cupid (ft. Uhmeer) 04:25

13. Unique 00:59

Get The Blessing - Bristopia (September 21, 2018)

Get The Blessing set the pace for the current UK Jazz revival, demonstrating that the early pioneers of the scene still have something important to say. Formed back in 1999 by bassist Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer (rhythm section of seminal act Portishead) alongside Jake McMurchie (on sax and electronics) and Pete Judge (trumpet and electronics) the Bristol-based four-piece boast a truly international fan-base, having forged a unique signature sound that defies easy classification, yet never loses sight of thumping tunes, monstrously infectious beats, or joyous collective spontaneity. After eighteen years, their ability to produce such creative and intelligent music – balanced with wit and passion – is testament to the free spirit that they embody.

1. If It Can It Will

2. Cococloud

3. Cellophant

4. Sunwise

5. Not With Standing

6. Recorded For Training And Quality Purposes

7. Bristopia

8. Rule Of Thumb

9. The Second Third

10. Tuathal

11. The Grand Scheme Of Things

www.gettheblessing.com