Binker and Moses - Feeding The Machine (February 25, 2022 Gearbox Records)

After some years spent roaming the Valley of the Ultrablacks and exploring the Mountain of Forever, (where they narrowly avoided the lethal traps of The Voice of Besbunu), Binker and Moses are back with a new offering.

'Feeding The Machine' is their first studio album in five years, due for release on February 25th on all formats.

Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios by legendary, GRAMMY-winning producer Hugh Padgham, the new record features honorary third member Max Luthert on tape loops and electronics, moving their sound into an entirely new dimension that crosses into ambient, minimalism and experimental electronic territories.

With the use of modular synths and sampling, traditional melody and song structures are left behind as the musicians are pushed creatively to respond and in turn, 'feed the machine'.

1. Asynchronous Intervals

2. Active-Multiple-Fetish-Overlord

3. Accelerometer Overdose

4. Feed Infinite

5. After The Machine Settles

6. Because Because

Binker Golding: soprano and tenor saxophones

Moses Boyd: drums

Max Luthert: live tape loops and electronic effects

All tracks composed by Binker Golding, Moses Boyd and Max Luthert

Recorded at Real World Studio, 29th-31st March 2021

Engineered and mixed by Hugh Padgham

Assisted by Oliver Middleton

Mastered and cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones and Darrel Sheinman at Gearbox Records

Mastered using all-valve Decca equalisation and Telefunken limiters. Lacquer discs cut on a Haeco Scully lathe with Westrex RA1700 series amps, Westrex 3DIIA cutting head. Monitored using Audio Note equipment

Produced by Darrel Sheinman and Hugh Padgham

Photography by Dan Medhurst

Graphic design by Alan Foulkes

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Jelly Cleaver - Forever Presence (November 12, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Forever Presence is the recorded debut of a new project by London-based guitarist, activist and producer Jelly Cleaver.

Jelly has had an incendiary rise over the last year; she has received the Steve Reid Award, is a Serious Take Five artist, was nominated for an Ivors Composer Award, and has been called “the next artist to make an impact on the London Jazz Scene” by Tina Edwards. Yet in the excitement and movement of this jazz scene, Forever Presence takes a different path, focusing on the neglected elements of ballads and beauty to allow other emotions to enter the music. It pays tribute to artists like Pharaoh Sanders, Alice Coltrane and Dhafer Youssef, as well as taking inspiration from Jelly's contemporaries such as Moor Mother and Angel Bat Dawid. Weaving together spiritual jazz, blues, soul, and psychedelic rock and accompanied by rising stars of the UK jazz scene, Forever Presence explores in five tracks the narratives of loss, love and the universe.

1. Forever Presence: Pt. 1

2. Forever Presence: Pt. 2

3. Prayer For Rojava

4. We Have Known Love

5. Black Line

Jelly Cleaver - composition, production, guitar, vocals, synth, percussion James Akers - saxophone

Lorenz Okello-Osengor - piano, rhodes, hammond organ

Katie Moberly - cello, electric bass

Hamish Nockles-Moore - double bass

Tash Keary - drums, percussion

All songs and lyrics written by Jelly Cleaver apart from ‘We Have Known Love’ which was written by Jelly Cleaver, Lorenz Okello-Osengo, James Akers, Tash Keary, Katie Moberly and Hamish Nockles Moore with lyrics by Jelly Cleaver.

Recorded at Henwood Studios

Studio Engineer: Joe Henwood, Jelly Cleaver

Mix Engineer: Jess Camilleri

Mastered by Caspar Sutton-Jones at Gearbox Records

Mastered using all-valve Decca equalisation and Telefunken limiters. Lacquer discs cut on a Haeco Scully lathe with Westrex RA1700 series amps, Westrex 3DIIA cutting head. Monitored on Audio Note equipment

Cover Artist: Angela Laier

Graphic design: Alan Foulkes

Photographer: Helen Amanita Murphy

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Levitation Orchestra - Illusions & Realities (October 29, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Levitation Orchestra presents one of the most adventurous albums to bless our ears in 2021, bringing together multiple inspirations ranging across spiritual jazz, classical, electronica, soul, spoken word, M-Base, and no-holds-barred free improvisation. With trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidstrom (Cykada, Gary Bartz) as musical director, the collective comprises some of London's most promising young musicians, who together play in or with the likes of Alabaster de Plume, Shunaji, Nihilism, PÆN, and Nardedey. Lluis Domenech Plana on flute, James Akers on tenor saxophone, and Ayodeji Ijishakin on tenor saxophone complete the horn section, with Saskia Horton on violin, Beatriz Rola on violin, and Emma Barnaby on cello making up the strings. Rhythm is available in handfuls from Hamish Nockles-Moore on double bass and Harry Ling on drums, complemented by Roella Oloro on keys, Maria Osuchowska on harp, and Paris Charles on guitar, with last but not least, Plumm and Dilara Aydin-Corbett on vocals.

As a true collective, each member is vital, contributing equally to the whole in terms of playing and writing. Compositions formed out of group discussions, which in the case of Illusions & Realities, delved into childhood, stoicism, astrophysical theories, and neurological delusions, all interweaving and circling the point where truth and reality enter the realm of illusion. The result is a record which manages to channels the energy of Sun Ra's Arkestra, the spiritual ambience of Alice Coltrane, and the harmonic subtleties of Debussy, whilst ultimately producing something tantalisingly original.

"Many In Body, One In Mind" - so reads the the final track title from Levitation Orchestra's forthcoming record Illusions & Realities. It's a statement that embodies both the album and the prime philosophy behind London's foremost powerhouse collective. The album is set for global release on October 29th via Gearbox Records. The album will be available on double vinyl LP with gatefold sleeve, CD with gatefold sleeve, and digital. Limited quantities of Japanese Edition vinyl LP and Japanese Edition CD will also be available to pre-order.

1. Life Is Suffering / Send And Receive Love Only

2. Listen To Her

3. Spiral (Die, Die, Die)

4. Delusion

5. Child: Part I

6. Child: Part II

7. Child: Part III

8. Child: Part IV

9. Between Shadows

10. Many In Body, One In Mind

Axel Kaner-Lidstrom - Trumpet

Lluis Domenech Plana - Flute

James Akers - Tenor Saxophone

Ayodeji Ijishakin - Tenor Saxophone

Saskia Horton - Violin

Beatriz Rola - Violin

Emma Barnaby - Cello

Maria Osuchowska - Harp

Paris Charles - Guitar

Hamish Nockles-Moore - Double Bass

Harry Ling - Drums

Plumm - Vocals

Dilara Aydin-Corbett - Vocals

Roella Oloro - Keys

Recorded at Soup Studio

Produced by Axel Kaner-Lidstrom & David Holmes

Engineered and Mixed by David Holmes

Mastered by Caspar Sutton-Jones and Darrel Sheinman at Gearbox Records

Mastered using all-valve Decca equalisation and Telefunken limiters. Lacquer discs cut on a Haeco Scully lathe with Westrex RA1700 series amps, Westrex 3DIIA cutting head. Monitored on Audio Note equipment

Artwork by River Cousin

Graphic design by Alan Foulkes

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The Cookers - Look Out! (September 24, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Look Out! is the triumphant sixth album return of jazz supergroup The Cookers, due out on September 24th on double vinyl, CD, and digital. Recorded at the iconic Van Gelder studio in Englewood Cliffs and cut using a Van Gelder-era '67 Haeco Sculley lathe at Gearbox Records, the 7-track release comprises original, fresh pieces written by Cecil McBee, Billy Harper, and George Cables which channel the heady, aggressive post-bop era of the mid-60s.

Whereas the majority of the jazz tradition’s elder statesmen head their own groups, this is one of the few jazz bands to contain legacy musicians of this calibre functioning as an equitable, long-standing ensemble. Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, and Billy Hart all came up in the heady era of the mid ‘60s: Hart and Henderson were members of Herbie Hancock’s groundbreaking Mwandishi group; Cecil McBee anchored Charles Lloyd’s great ’60s quartet alongside Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette; Billy Harper was part of Lee Morgan’s last group, as well as being a member of Max Roach’s Quartet and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers; while George Cables held down the piano chair in numerous bands including groups led by Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper. David Weiss and Donald Harrison, from a more recent generation and the youngest members of the band, are experts in this forthright lingo, having gained experience performing with Art Blakey, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Tolliver, Roy Haynes and Herbie Hancock.

After 14 years together, again the incredibly high level of musicianship has only increased with the revisiting of their fresh, challenging, boundary-pushing music from these legendary, revered, veteran improvisers. 

1. The Mystery of Monifa Brown

2. Destiny Is Yours

3. Cat's Out The Bag

4. Somalia

5. AKA Reggie

6. Traveling Lady

7. Mutima

Billy Harper: tenor sax

Eddie Henderson: trumpet

David Weiss: trumpet

Donald Harrison: alto sax

George Cables: piano

Cecil McBee: bass

Billy Hart: drums

Produced by David Weiss

Executive Producer: Darrel Sheinman 

Recorded at Van Gelder Recording Studio by Maureen Sickler

Mixed by Katherine Miller

Mastered by Caspar Sutton-Jones and Darrel Sheinman at Gearbox Records

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Abdullah Ibrahim - Solotude (November 26, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Each year on October 9th, Abdullah Ibrahim performs a solo piano concert at the Hirzinger Hall in South Germany in order to celebrate his birthday. Due to lockdown restrictions last year, this traditional birthday concert was replaced with the opportunity to record a solo piano performance. Hirzinger Hall, in Riedering, South East Germany, is famous for its incredible acoustics, and Ibrahim's solitary performance lends itself perfectly to the space, The recording crew was sparse, the audience non-existent, yet Ibrahim’s communion with the piano remains warm and timeless.

1. Mindiff

2. Trieste My Love

3. Nisa

4. Blue Bolero

5. In-Tempo

6. Dreamtime

7. Blue Bolero (First Reprise)

8. Peace

9. Blues For A Hip King

10. District 6

11. Tokai

12. District 6 (Reprise)

13. Pula

14. Sotho Blue

15. Blue Bolero (Second Reprise)

16. Did You Hear That Sound?

17. In The Evening

18. Once Upon A Midnight

19. The Wedding

20. Signal On The Hill

piano and composition by Abdullah Ibrahim

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Cahill / Costello - Offworld (September 10, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Cahill//Costello present their debut album, Offworld, out September 10th on Vinyl LP and digital.

Recorded during August 2020 on location in Sanna, Ardnamurchan, in the Scottish Highlands, the album captures the spontaneity and improvised nature of the immersive Scottish landscape. By fusing together minimalist music and improvisation in a "live session", Cahill Costello chronicle their own contemporary bardic and ethnographic interpretation of modern day Scotland.

1. The Visitant

2. Pavan I

3. Pavan II

4. We Rebuild Them

5. Offworld

6. And It Was Not Meant That We Should Voyage Far

7. Pylons I

8. Pylons II

9. Avhin Saune

Kevin Cahill: electric guitar, effects, tape loops

Graham Costello: drums

All tracks composed by Kevin Cahill and Graham Costello

Recorded and mixed by Luigi Pasquini

Mastered and cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones at Gearbox Records

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Tony Coe & John Horler - Dancing in the Dark (August 13, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Piano and clarinet duo albums are few and far between within the jazz canon. In the case of Dancing in the Dark, versatile horn player Tony Coe chose to stick to the clarinet as his saxophone case was too heavy, or so that's how pianist John Horler recounts it. Our performance in question takes place at St Michael's Church, Appleby in 2007 as part of the annual Appleby Jazz Festival. The setting is warm and intimate as is the church acoustic, a perfect backdrop for the varied repertoire of standards and original compositions performed.

Coe and Horler dance their way through Bill Evans' 'Person I Knew' and Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' as well as Horler's own 'Piece for Poppy', dedicated to his partner Wendy, and Coe's contrafact to Autumn Leaves, titled 'Some Other Autumn'. Both players push and pull the well-known melodies to suit the moment yet maintain complete synergy with one another, with Horler's Bill Tatum-esque chord voicings and meandering lyrical interludes giving platform to Coe's resounding, cadenza-like improvisations.

Coe recounts this as "one of my very best performances, which would not have been possible without a partner who is one of the finest jazz pianists in the world." The respect from Horler is mutual, with him noting, "Tony was such a great player that it took sometime for me to realise that I could play a bit too..."

Their trust in each other, in the music, and in the moment, rings true with this live performance 'Dancing in the Dark', which finally sees the light of day on LP, CD, and Digital.

1. Re: Person I Knew

2. Night and Day

3. Body and Soul

4. Some Other Autumn

5. Piece for Poppy

6. Dancing in the Dark

7. Around in Three

8. Blue Monk

Tony Coe: clarinet

John Horler: piano

Recorded at St Michael's Church, Appleby, Thursday 26th July 2007

Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Andy Cleyndert

Mastered and cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones and Darrel Sheinman

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George Fenton - The United Way (2021 Gearbox Records)

Five-time Oscar nominated composer George Fenton is comfortably one of today’s most prolific and acclaimed British composers, having worked on numerous Ken Loach films including ‘I, Daniel Blake’, Hollywood moderns classics like ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Hitch’, and written the iconic TV theme for Newsnight. He is also a lifelong Manchester United fan, leading to his scoring of a new historical documentary, ‘The United Way’, which tells the epic story of one of the world’s most successful football clubs ever.

Fenton’s musical underscoring adds gravitas and a sense of spiritual awakening to the film, which begins its journey in the early days of the club, in post-war, industrial Manchester. Recent events have shown that the history and city behind an organisation as powerful and global as Manchester United are what matter to people most, and Fenton’s inspiring soundtrack to ‘The United Way’ emphasises this whilst showcasing the club’s core narrative in all its glory.

1. Curtain Up 03:03

2. The Busby Babes 03:15

3. Munich and Roll Call 03:59

4. 1968 For Them 02:41

5. Say What You Like 02:07

6. A Disaster 02:02

7. Game Changer 02:51

8. Manchester Marseilles 01:30

9. Winter of Discontent 02:01

10. Time for a Change 02:06

11. More Change 02:10

12. This is Different 01:17

13. Battle Begins 02:46

14. Palace 03:03

15. Media Circus 01:53

16. Rebuilding 03:30

17. Breaking News 01:52

18. Talking in Paris 01:51

19. Miracles 02:35

20. Stepping Aside 02:42

21. Digging Deep 02:07

22. The Final Push 04:08

23. May 26 1999 03:23

24. Deansgate 03:02

25. The United Way Credits 03:31

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Graham Costello - Second Lives (May 7, 2021 Gearbox Records)

Glasgow drummer and composer Graham Costello returns with his second STRATA album, 'Second Lives', out May 7th on Gearbox Records

Second Lives spans Reichian minimalism, semi-free jazz à la Binker and Moses, polyrhythmic math rock, and pensive, cinematic ambience. The album was recorded straight to tape last summer at RAK Studios with co-producer and engineer Hugh Padgham at the helm, mixed at British Grove, and subsequently mastered in-house at Gearbox. The inspiration and wider themes of Second Lives sit with thoughts of identity, heritage, and Stoicism, as well as the theme of overcoming inner challenges - what you face and the process you go through to get to the other side.

The album features STRATA, an ensemble formed by Graham in 2016 which brings together stylistic elements of minimalism, jazz and noise-rock whilst channelling a strong DIY ethic. Made up of some of Scotland's most exciting musical proponents, the band features: pianist Fergus McCreadie, whose critically acclaimed new solo album just came out via Edition Records; guitarist Joe Williamson, who was named Young Scottish Jazz Musician Of The Year in 2018 and leads hard-hitting 5-piece Animal Society; rising Trombonist Liam Shortall, who also leads jazz collective corto.alto; renowned bassist Mark Hendry and rising saxophonist Harry Weir who also leads AKU!.

What they say about Graham and STRATA:

"unrelenting waves of cinematic imagery accrue an intensity that never seems to level off, even after the last note has faded.” - Bandcamp

“Vibrant, caustic, fascinating” - Clash Magazine

“Dedicated, artful… fantastic” - Sunday Times

1. အစ

2. Eudaimonia

3. Legion

4. Iris

5. The Colossus

6. Circularity 

7. Impetu

8. Snowblind

9. Arrowhead

10. Ataraxia

11. Second Lives

Graham Costello’s STRATA features:

Harry Weir - tenor saxophone

Liam Shortall - trombone

Fergus McCreadie - piano

Joe Williamson - guitar

Mark Hendry - electric bass

Graham Costello - drums + composition

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Don Cherry - Cherry Jam (2021 Gearbox Records)

"Hip as hell" - The Wire

"Their output doesn’t suggest an incendiary avant-garde so much as an extended post-bop language, cool-tempered and abidingly hip." - WBGO

"It captures a really interesting period in his career... This is my favorite sound. It is just so chill and smart and just cool." - Robin Hilton, NPR Music

After having released Don Cherry's Cherry Jam as a limited Record Store Day title in the Autumn of 2020, Gearbox presents this essential release on specialist Japanese Edition vinyl and CD as well as digitally.

‘Cherry Jam’ sets the scene in 60s Copenhagen, a city which at the time proved instrumental in the hosting and development of jazz musicians both local and American. Cherry had performed and recorded there with Archie Shepp in 1963, toured with Albert Ayler in the autumn of 1964, and would go on to have a residency at the hip Cafe Montmartre in 1966.

Our recording is taken from the original tape of a 1965 radio broadcast, programmed by Denmark’s national radio station (Danmarks Radio.) It was in this same year that Cherry would record his landmark Blue Note recording, ‘Complete Communion’, with Leandro 'Gato' Barbieri on tenor saxophone, Henry Grimes on double bass, and Edward Blackwell on drums, as well as feature on fellow American expatriate George Russell’s live album ‘George Russell Sextet at Beethoven Hall’. This particular line-up however, consisting of Danish musicians, has never been heard after its original broadcast date, and neither have the three original Don Cherry compositions that are featured on the recording credits.

These four pieces show Don Cherry in the midst of his transformation from pivotal sideman in New York’s avant-garde jazz scene to leader of his own groups and world traveller. His endless curiosity, free-thinking openness to different cultures, and rejection of musical boundaries paved the way for future creators in jazz, world music, and beyond.

1. The Ambassador From Greenland 05:32

2. You Took Advantage Of Me 05:15

3. Priceless 06:47

4. Nigeria 04:48

Don Cherry - cornet

Mogens Bollerup - tenor saxophone

Atli Bjørn - piano

Benny Nielsen - bass

Simon Koppel - drums

Recorded at Danmarks Radio Studio 2, Copenhagen, October 1965

Mastered in-house at Gearbox Records

Artwork photograph by Riccardo Schwamenthal

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Thelonious Monk - Mønk (GEARBOX RECORDS September 28, 2018)

Hot on the heels of Impulse’s recently unearthed Coltrane number one hit album comes another beauty from Jazz’s ‘Holy Trinity’. This is a previously unreleased, precious lost treasure from Monk’s most critically acclaimed line-up; Charlie Rouse on saxophone, John Ore on double bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums. The music was recorded live in Copenhagen in 1963 at the peak of Monk’s career. A year later he was to feature on the cover of TIME magazine, one of only for 4 Jazz artists ever to do so. 

The performance, a mixture of Monk originals and interpretations of standards, showcases Monk at his prime: full of avant-garde flair and wit, but always with a swinging feel that explains his title as the 'High Priest of Bebop'. 

The original tapes, saved from a skip and blessed with the approval of the Monk estate, have been faithfully restored, mastered and cut using Gearbox's legendary all-analogue process.

Thelonious Monk - piano

Charlie Rouse - tenor saxophone

John Ore - double bass

Frankie Dunlop - drums

1. Bye-Ya

2. Nutty

3. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

4. Body Soul

5. Monk's Dream

6. Nutty, Pt.1

7. Nutty, Pt.2

CD 1 Binker and Moses - Journey to the Mountain of Forever (GEARBOX RECORDS 2017)

It may have a portentous title (a genuflection to the spiritual and very influential 1960s jazz of John Coltrane), but the second album by the prize-winning young London sax-and-drums pairing of Binker Golding and Moses Boyd is the diametric opposite of earnest: it’s the seductive sound of spirited improvisers letting off steam. Binker and Moses emerged from vocalist Zara McFarlane’s backing band, and this double-vinyl set continues their duologue – soulful tenor sax sermons plus earthily funky drumming, fusing jazz, hip-hop and grime. It adds an expanded lineup on the second disc, including free-sax pioneer Evan Parker, trumpeter Byron Wallen and harpist Tori Handsley.

The duo’s tracks winningly mix dark, classic Coltrane raptures, infectious hook-rooted rockers and Sonny Rollins-like calypsos (Fete By the River). The larger group sets up thrilling rhythm textures merged from Parker’s seamless soprano lines and a chatter of snare drums and tablas; there are atmospheric guitar-like harp figures, and dramatically spontaneous two-tenor tussles for Golding and Parker. The no-frills, no-edits production only adds to the incandescent immediacy.

Disc One: The Realm of Now

1. The Departure

2. Intoxication From The Jahvmonishi Leaves

3. Fete By The River

4. Trees On Fire

5. The Shaman’s Chant

6. Leave The Now Behind

CD 2 Binker and Moses - Journey to the Mountain of Forever (GEARBOX RECORDS 2017)

Disc Two: The Realms Of The Infinite

1. The Valley of the Ultra Blacks

2. Gifts From The Vibrations Of Light

3. Mysteries and Revelations

4. Ritual Of The Root

5. The Voice Of Besbunu

6. Echoes From The Other Side Of The Mountain

7. Reverse Genesis

8. Entering The Infinite

9. At The Feet Of The Mountain Of Forever