Record of the Week
Co-written with acclaimed songwriters and producers Sarah Gillespie and Chris Montague, with collaboration from Ronnie Scott’s Artistic Director James Pearson (Van Morrison, Jeff Beck) and renowned composer Ian Barter (Amy Winehouse, Paloma Faith) with contributions from Tony Remy (Incognito, Sarah Jane Morris) and a whole host of leading musicians. Including pianist Ross Stanley, saxophonist Trish Clowes and trumpeter Poppy Daniels.
Rising UK jazz and soul singer-songwriter Aria announces her debut album, Rectify, due for release on the 25th September 2026. Over the last few years, Aria has been making waves across the UK jazz and soul scene through her expressive vocals, genre-blending compositions, and an increasingly recognised live presence across some of the UK’s most prestigious venues and festivals. Her singles to date have been playlisted consecutively on Jazz FM, including two Track of the Week features, with her debut single, ‘Rectify Your Soul’, spending five consecutive weeks on the playlist. She has also received airplay on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Introducing and BBC London. With Rectify, Aria brings the sound and energy of her live band into the studio, capturing the chemistry between the musicians across the record.
Speaking about the album, Aria says: “Rectify: to make right; to learn, to grow, to move forward. Created through introspection and storytelling, Rectify explores the balance between strength and vulnerability. The album tells stories from my life as a young woman navigating London, touching on the themes and contradictions of modern life - from dating and relationships, to finding my own perspectives and holding onto a more timeless and reflective way of seeing the world. Half Norwegian and raised in Hong Kong and Singapore before moving to the UK, my experiences across cultures have shaped a sound that is inherently multifaceted. Some of the stories on Rectify come from within, while others come from the people closest to me and the relationships I have had, and witnessed over the last few years. Writing about other people’s lives has shaped me and made me look at my own differently. It has made me and my music more direct, while helping me understand things I hadn’t understood at the time.
She continued “Rectify is a journey through love, desire, anger, self-discovery and longing.The stories embrace both boldness and tenderness, celebrating the courage to wear your heart on your sleeve and move forward with conviction. The album closes with a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About," a playful and optimistic close to the record. Its sense of willingness to take chances throughout life reflects the spirit of Rectify, finding hope and possibility in what lies ahead.”
Rhythm, groove and soul sit at the heart of Aria’s writing. Both timeless and contemporary, Rectify brings together jazz and soul with her personal approach to storytelling. The album moves between atmospheric, soulful moments, sharp hooks and expressive lyrics, while keeping each song’s story at its heart. Ultimately, Rectify reflects where Aria is now shaped by different places, people and experiences, but looking forward.
This vinyl release symbolises a moment in time. Four tracks, eight artists, and a blueprint for dance music before the world knew what it was. Generally referred to as Garage, House or Loft music in the 80s, Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan shaped the sound from its roots. Larry, resident DJ at Paradise Garage, New York, Frankie at The Continental Baths in New York and later at The Warehouse in Chicago, both prolific remixers and some of the first career DJs. Two close friends.
Countless genres. One feeling. It’s hard to imagine that the other artists on this release could be equally as influential. Syreeta Wright first worked at Motown before spending decades singing and writing songs with Stevie Wonder. Gwen Guthrie began playing piano at 8, sung with artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Madonna, wrote songs for the likes of Ben E. King, Roberta Flack and was known as ‘The First Lady of The Paradise Garage’ during the heyday of the club. Adeva began work with Frankie Knuckles after already going platinum on her debut album, featuring a hit house remix of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’. This is all before mentioning Womack and Womack who moved bodies and souls from ‘Teardrops’ on the dance floor, to family rooted gospel and
soul foundations.
Re:versal Records
Using the world’s largest archive at Universal Music, we’ve dug through over 100,000 releases, sourced original DAT tape masters, found rare remixes and curated a refined collection of defining dance and electronic music. We’re bringing deep cuts, rare remixes and classic dance tracks onto club ready and collectable heavyweight vinyl.
‘Trouble’ is the second single and title track from Louis Baker’s forthcoming self-released new album, out 9 October 2026. Following the warmth and optimism of first single ‘All We Need’, the track reveals a grittier side of the record, leaning into Baker’s blues influences while drawing deeply from soul and Motown traditions.
Written and produced by Baker, ‘Trouble’ is a hard-hitting soul cut built on a raw, driving groove. Gritty lead vocals cut through punchy drums and Motown-inspired guitar stabs, while bass, organ, clav and congas power the rhythm. Soaring flute and sweeping strings bring movement and cinematic lift to the track, creating a dynamic contrast with its hard-edged foundations.
Lyrically, ‘Trouble’ explores worry, exhaustion and inner turmoil while searching for love, hope and stability. Written during a period of personal stress and reflection, the song became a way for Baker to process what he was experiencing and put those feelings into perspective. Universal in its themes, ‘Trouble’ captures the tension between feeling weighed down by life and continuing to search for something steadier on the other side.
The single arrives alongside an official music video and the announcement of Baker’s new full-length album Trouble, set for release on 9 October 2026. Across nine tracks, the album explores resilience, grief, love, community, social consciousness and personal growth, bringing together live instrumentation, organic performances and contemporary production through Baker’s distinctive approach to soul.
Celebrated singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Louis Baker has won over listeners around the globe with his signature offering: slow-cooked modern soul for the people. A critically acclaimed stylist of richly emotive songcraft, he reinterprets longstanding American and British musical traditions through a laidback coastal lens. Since the early 2010s, he has established himself as a captivating guitarist and powerhouse vocalist with an ear for head-nod grooves from Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Along the way, everyone from India.Arie (“Louis Baker, you sing my soul”) to BBC 6 Music, Rolling Stone, Clash Magazine and Earmilk has shown love for who he is and has become.
Baker toured extensively through 2024 and early 2025, including runs across the UK, Europe and Australia with Fat Freddy’s Drop, and featured on the title track of their acclaimed album Slo Mo. ‘Trouble’ follows the recent single ‘All We Need’, which received early support from Spotify’s New Music Friday AU & NZ and Apple Music’s New Music Daily, alongside international radio airplay and support from DJs and tastemakers around the world.
Gilles Peterson Presents Norma Winstone, Live at Maida Vale is a live album released as part of an exciting collaboration between BBE Music and legendary UK DJ and radio broadcaster Gilles Peterson.
Pre-empting the future release of BBC Sessions Vol. 2 – Maida Vale: The End of an Era on BBE Music, this Norma Winstone concert is an absolute must-have for any jazz fan.
Released as a vinyl LP, the recording captures vocalist and composer Norma Winstone performing with a group of contemporary and emerging musicians, including her sons Leo Taylor on drums and Alex Taylor on vocals, alongside world-renowned tuba player Oren Marshall, pianist and composer Elliot Galvin (Shabaka Hutchings, Emma-Jean Thackray), and saxophonist Mark Lockheart (Robert Wyatt, Radiohead).
As BBE Music celebrates 30 years as one of the UK’s—and the world’s—most innovative and influential Black music record labels, this collaboration with Gilles Peterson is a fitting partnership to curate, release, and highlight music from his groundbreaking BBC Sessions, recorded at the globally renowned Maida Vale Studios.
To feature a concert by a legend such as Norma Winstone—who has worked with everyone from Joe Harriott to Michael Garrick to Ian Carr’s Nucleus across a career spanning more than 50 years—is clearly a deeply personal moment for Gilles, who described the Maida Vale performance as “possibly the biggest highlight of all my years at the BBC.”
Released on BBE Music as a five-track vinyl LP, Gilles Peterson Presents Norma Winstone Live at Maida Vale comes in a gatefold sleeve featuring photographs from the session and sleeve notes by acclaimed music and culture writer Emma Warren.
Sam Pounds is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer signed to Death Row Records. Originally from Bahama, North Carolina, he developed his signature Rock N' Soul sound by blending his gospel roots with retro soul, classic R&B and old school rock n’ roll.
Now based in Los Angeles, Sam has become a sought-after songwriter and producer—collaborating with Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Killer Mike, the late Liam Payne, Jimmie Allen, Dianne Warren and more. He received Grammy recognition for his contributions to Killer Mike's MICHAEL album and has also contributed extensively to Jamie Foxx's upcoming music, TV and film projects.
Known for his electrifying live performances, powerhouse vocals, and commitment to musicianship, Sam is lighting up festival stages throughout the 2026 season. He has already appeared at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, LA), Suwannee Amp Jam (Live Oak, FL) and High Sierra Music Festival (Quincy, CA) with upcoming performances at Monte Rio Groove Festival (Monte Rio, CA), and Pickathon Festival (Happy Valley, OR). Backed by his longtime collaborators, Family Company, Sam has earned a reputation for commanding the stage with explosive energy, powerhouse vocals, and a live show that consistently captivates audiences.
Sam continues to build momentum with recent Death Row Records releases including "You Belong To Me," "Queen," and "I Got A Feeling." Showing no signs of slowing down, Sam has a collaborative EP with OneRepublic’s Tim Myers coming out in Q3 of 2026, plus a full-length holiday album this year and additional new music on the way.
.multibeat - Use Your Noggin
Forward-thinking Dutch collective .multibeat present Use Your Noggin, the fourth single from their forthcoming LP and debut for Sonar Kollektiv, OOO, due for release this autumn. Hailing from the vibrant city of Utrecht, the trio continue to blur the lines between hip hop, jazz and contemporary beat music, always keeping the groove firmly at the centre of everything they do.
Influenced by Robert Glasper, J Dilla and the current wave of UK jazz, Boudewijn Pleij (keys), Thijs van Zutphen (bass) and Aron Smit (drums) spent countless hours shaping OOO in their Utrecht studio. Inspiration often arrived during their daily lunch breaks, where marathon GeoGuessr sessions and deep YouTube rabbit holes unexpectedly sparked the idea behind Use Your Noggin.
Driven by frantic drums, warm basslines, glowing synth textures and calming keys, the track captures the trio at their most instinctive and playful. Stripped back to the core chemistry between the three musicians, Use Your Noggin celebrates rhythm, spontaneity and the joy of making music together, while remaining firmly rooted in .multibeat’s jazz-informed, groove-led sound.
As the band explain:
“This track is all about the energy of the rhythms and the melodic hook that ties you in and doesn’t let you go!”
Use Your Noggin offers another glimpse into OOO, an album that reflects .multibeat’s strong independent spirit while staying true to their live musicianship and the collaborative ethos that has shaped their music from the very beginning.
Featuring musicians spanning six decades, including Jamaican legends: Johnny Clarke, Susan Cadogan, Earl Sixteen, and original Skatalite Vin Gordon. As well as British and contemporary artists: Lover’s Rock singer Sandra Cross, Jazz trumpeter Ms. Maurice (band leader of Afro-Jazz ensemble Kokoroko with her trombonist bandmate Anoushka Nanguy, and multi-instrumentalist Ash Walker.
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Through their widely acclaimed 2022 album On The Grove (“a unique album, celebrating and furthering west London’s longstanding reggae connections” - MOJO magazine), Soul Revivers - the ambitious and passionate project of Nick Manasseh and David Hill - became renowned for their outstanding collaborations with reggae legends Ernest Ranglin, Ken Boothe and the late Devon Russell.
Their forthcoming second album, Holding It Down, features yet more legends with appearances from Johnny Clarke, Earl Sixteen, Vin Gordon and Susan Cadogan, as well as contemporary artists Ms.Maurice, Anoushka Nanguy, and Ash Walker. Clarke, one of reggae’s founding fathers, sings on the first track to be released from the album, The Good Book, a modern roots track and original song. He also lends his vocal skills to Come Back to Me, a song he wrote in 1985, and first recorded for Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor.
Fellow Jamaicans Susan Cadogan, Earl Sixteen and Vin Gordon bring their excetional talents to three more of the album’s outstanding tracks. Cadogan debuts No Place, delivered in her trademark style, echoing her 1973 international hit Hurt so Good, that She first recorded for Lee Perry at the age of 21.Fellow Perry collaborator Earl Sixteen sings on Serious Time, a classical roots rocker that preaches love and hope in the face of relentless global strife. Vin Gordon, one of Jamaican music’s all-time great instrumentalists, who learnt at the Alpha Boys School before cutting his teeth with Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, brings his distinctive trombone tones to Everything is Everything.
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Holding It Down also features outstanding UK talent, courtesy of artists including south London-based Sandra Cross, a stalwart of the UK reggae scene, having first recorded in 1982. Known for both lovers’ rock and roots, she sings on two of the album’s tracks; A Thousand Years, which she wrote specifically for the album, falls firmly in the lovers’ category, while Like a Lion sees her in roots sister mode over a tough, infectious rub-a-dub inspired rhythm.
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As well as honouring legends of reggae, Soul Revivers is very much a continuity project, and to that end contemporary artists are key to its relevance and vitality. Appearing on Stable Way is trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, band leader of Kokoroko – who Soul Revivers worked with as Ms. Maurice on two tracks for their debut album – and then with both her and bandmate trombonist Anoushka Nanguy on the limited Coconut Rock single the following year. Stable Way continues their musical relationship on a track that has dual meaning; Manasseh’s The Yard recording studio being situated on Stable Way, under the Westway.
Recorded at that studio, Holding It Down features an extraordinary range of talented musicians, including drummer Adrian ‘Kenz’ McKenzie, keyboardist Will Rast, guitarists James Shephard and Wayne Armond, saxophonists Colin Humphries and Dougal Caston, with Manasseh contributing bass, and some guitar and percussion to the tracks.
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On their second album, once again, Soul Revivers prove they are exemplifiers of world class reggae, expertly drawing on the genre’s timeless history, while incorporating modern artists and sounds, to create something contemporary and timeless.As with On The Grove, the sleeve of Holding it Down also features a photograph by Charlie Phillips, the renowned Jamaican photographer who has lived around Ladbroke for most of his life and is a friend of David. The cover image was taken on Tavistock Road in 1966 during the first Notting Hill Carnival.
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The Carnival is very close to the hearts of Soul Revivers; Nick having played there on the Manasseh sound system in the 1990s, while David runs the official Carnival after-parties at The Tabernacle, the community centre where he and Matthew Phillip, the CEO of Carnival Village Trust, host the monthly Swing & Dine dances.
Afro-Latin electronic producer, global-sounds inspired DJ, and bassist for Little Simz, Marla Kether returns with a new track Reverse, the second track taken from her highly-anticipated EP Luso, set for release on Strut Records on 16th October.
Marla Kether's latest single Reverse perfectly showcases her energetic, hook-driven approach to songwriting - a defining quality that runs throughout her genre-spanning EP. Expanding her impressive list of collaborators, the track features London vocalist Sofia Grant, with writing by Marla and co-production alongside fellow DJ and producer Val Fritz.
Inspired by the rich palette of Broken Beat and Jazz, Reverse is a radiant, high-energy cut built for summer dancefloors. Groove-laden, percussive, and filled with infectious hooks, Reverse is a track that feels both sophisticated and effortlessly uplifting. Sofia Grant's soulful vocal performance glides over the groove, adding another layer of warmth and energy to one of Marla's most accomplished productions to date. Speaking about the collaboration, Marla says: "I had worked with Sofia Grant on my debut EP and knew that she would be perfect for this track—her vocals on this one are incredible."
Live instrumentation and electronic production move together throughout Luso, creating music built for clubs, headphones and festival stages alike. Marla weaves together Brazilian musical traditions, Broken Beat, Afro-Portuguese Batida, Afrobeat and jazz-inflected club music into a deeply rhythmic and emotionally rich body of work.
At its core, Luso is a celebration of community, movement and musical freedom - a release shaped by travel, collaboration and the energy of shared spaces. The result is a bold statement from an artist entering a new creative phase.
With Luso, Marla Kether confirms herself as one of the most exciting cross-disciplinary artists emerging from the UK underground today.
Luso is available on Vinyl LP and Digital from 16th October.
​Mr Bongo presents Volume 8 of their cherished Record Club series. Curated in-house by the Bongo team, these compilations are a chance for the esteemed label to share some of their favourite tracks, hard-fought finds, and unsung gems from the global stage. In the cross-genre spirit of the series, Volume 8 draws from the worlds of soul, boogie, disco-reggae, jazz-funk, Latin and Brazilian music. Capturing that far-reaching focus, this three track sampler brings together a dancefloor heater from Ubunto, an exclusive Kenny Dope edit of The Sylvers and a cosmic fusion of disco and reggae from Tapper Zukie.
First up, we travel to Salvador with a blistering dancefloor-focused cut from Ubunto - a DJ and producer with over 10 years in Brazil’s electronic music scene. Putting an electronic tropical twist on a Brazilian classic, Ubunto reinterprets Dorival Caymmi’s sublime folky MPB song ‘O Vento’ from 1959, into a modern-day dancer. A brilliant reimagination that still manages to hold on to the original song's essence, helped by the formidable female vocal force of As Ganhadeiras de Itapuã, who originate from the same neighbourhood as Ubunto.
Next, for around 15 years Mr Bongo have been working with the iconic Sylvers family, in particular, their leader Leon Sylvers. After a lot of searching, they discovered the original two-inch master tapes from the first two Sylvers albums and delivered them to the one and only Kenny Dope. Kenny has tastefully reworked ‘Wish That I Could Talk To You’; fattening up the drums whilst bringing more drama to the horns and strings. The song now feels more contemporary, yet still stays true to its roots. Complete genius!
Last up, Tapper Zukie is a Record Club series favourite, with his productions also featuring on Volumes 1 and 7. ‘Visions Of Love’ is a truly unique track, not sitting fully in any genre; it has a pulsating, cosmic disco-reggae crossover energy and was released on Tapper’s own Stars imprint. An under-the-radar jewel.
Traversing time, genre, and location, these three gems are just a small snapshot of the breadth and brilliance you’ll discover on Mr Bongo Record Club Volume 8.