2004-12-14 - Raggy’s “Trust these ears� Chart

Izanami / “Sol� / Jazz Maffia 7�
I know that I'm really late on this one (respect to Mark ‘Titchmarsh’ Taylor!) but this seven inch is absolutely runnin’ it at the moment! Featuring the Soil & “Pimp� horns, this tiny bit of Japanese wax is the BEST new jazz dance track in ages blowing everything else away! Rack it next to the peak of the UK jazz scene in the late 80's. Trust these ears! www.izanami.info

Elektro4 / “Tell Her� / Bully 7�
I charted this wicked seven inch about six weeks ago, you know the drill, and now that Peterson has recently playlisted it everyone wants one. Trust these ears! www.bullyrecords.com

Hajime Yoshizawa / “Rise Me Up� / Especial 12� ESP-012
This guy amazes me! Switching between hard core jazz compositions to club programmed and live piano led beats, “Rise Me Up� ads to his arsenal of purely brilliant music. This new three tracker sounds like something outta the 70’s jazz funk era, a la Patrice Rushen, Lonnie Liston Smith et al. Trust these ears! www.especial-records.com

Finn Peters / “Aldeia De Ogum� & “Feminina� / Club Brasil 12�
I was wondering if anyone would ever take on the mammoth task of covering a Joyce track, Finn Peters delivers, delivers, DELIVERS not one but TWO dance floor stormers! This is proper, warm, sunny, organic, deep 2004 Brazilian music as championed by all the big players, and rightfully so, this is a must twelve in anticipation of the LP’s! BIG Brazilian music to put a smile on your face. You also get a quality version of “Take It Easy My Brother Charles� by Mariana Feo. Trust these ears! www.clubbrasil.com

MaseQua Myers & Jami Ayinde / “Black Land Of The Nile� / Jazzman 7� JM035
They’ve done it again! Top of every collectors list, this obscurity originally came out in 1976 as part of the children’s musical ‘Black Fairy’ (lucky kids!) to promote black awareness among young Americans. Socially aware music that we all need more of and love. Definitely a label of the year for me! Trust these ears! www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk

Visioneers / “Runnin� / Omniverse 7� OMNI704
Doesn’t need any sellin’ from me, it sells itself!! Wicked limited edition remake of the Pharcyde original.

The Fascinations / “Fascinated Groove (la paresse...)� / High Contrast 10� HCR-9618
I know it’s a little cheesy, but I am so glad that there are still people out there making music like this. France meets Japan, Pierre Barouh meets Masami Watanabe and they create a Gainsbourg-esque swinging jazz tune complete with vibraphone! If you like Johnny Lytle you’ll love this. Watch this label - Trust these ears! www.vividsound.co.jp/highcontrast

John Stubblefield / Confessin’ / Soul Note 1985
You need this Italian LP. If you like jazz music in any shape or form, beg, borrow, steal this LP. Title track is phenomenal. Nine minutes of heaven. “Spiral Dance� & “Waltz For Duke Pearson� are also out of this world, John Stubblefield never, for some strange reason, got any profile as a leader and a top jazz musician. Criminal to say the least. Top drawer LP. Trust these ears! www.hotgroovyrecords.it

Paolo Fedreghini / “Spread Your Love (feat. Claudia Bernath)� / Schema 12� SCEP376
Made in Italy, that’s what it says on the cover. The Paolo Fedreghini band and Claudia Bernath return with another insanely catchy bossa jazz track. Trust these ears! www.ishtar.it

Sarah & Melody / “Legend From Ratman� / Bridge 012
I love this! Recycling the Beatles ‘Day Tripper’ these gals were way ahead of the game. Released way back when on King records and now for us all to enjoy on a reissue with the most psychedelic cover you have ever seen! (up there with Gal Costa’s Tuareg) The sound of pacific... Trust these ears! www.jetsetrecords.net & www.bridge-inc.net

Orange Pekoe / Autumn EP / New World 7�
I love these sort of Japanese sevens! Strictly limited press of a different version to the one on their newest album "Poetic Ore". Finger-snapping, catchy swingin' jazz with vocal thatjust does it for me. Lovely water coloured artwork too!!!

Raggy spins weekly @ the multiple award winning Dusk Bar > www.duskbar.co.uk
‘Off Limits’ DJ monthly @ Big Chill Sundaes > www.bigchill.net