“A label for music with soul” NuNorthern Soul have been releasing music since 2012 that brings warmth and light to your musical palette. Given that they focuss largely on new music – B.J. Smith and Ragz Nordset being particular highlights – and compilations, their latest release came slightly out of the left field.
A writer, arranger, guitarist, producer, software innovator and amateur astronomer, Ryo Kawasaki is one of the greats, not just in Japan but throughout the jazz-speaking world. Compiled by NNS boss Phil Cooper, Selected Works narrows the scope of Kawasaki’s catalogue to just five tracks in a four year recording period; an impressive coup for the label, it’s also a huge service to contemporary music.
Taken from Ryo featuring Concierto De Aranjuez (1982), we’re delighted to give ‘Hawaiian Caravan’ a fresh lease of life in this old-but-new Premiere. As if David Axelrod and Rhythm & Sound had made music love together, this is a dubbed out slice of psychedelic jazz, epitomising the fusion of styles that Kawasaki became a pioneer for in the 1970s.
Selected Work 1979 to 1983 is out 11th April – pre-order from Bandcamp. Ryo returns to Ronnie Scotts for the first time in over 30 years on 6th April.
