Back in stock: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Here comes a truly show-stopping swooner on Penrose, the sublabel of the ever-trusty Daptone Records. This is the first solo outing for Jensine Benitez, who is usually found singing with Thee Sacred Souls, a hard-gigging outfit who always send the crowd home elated after Benitez takes centre stage. With her bandmates on hand to provide back-up duties, we get treated to a pair of dreamy soul songs that capture a little 50s swing which gels beautifully with Benitez's arresting voice. Both tracks are downtempo lullabies perfect for those intimate, wind-down moments with the one you love. Trust us, this is some seriously romantic stuff.

Review: As you probably know if you're reading this, Jorun Bombay is one of the most consistently on for edit maestros in the game. Here he steps up with a new outing that sticks right at the heart of the dancefloor once more. 'Strictly Dann Stealy' is a clever mash-up of De La Soul's 'Eye Know (Know It All Remix)' featuring the original source vocals over a faithfully recreated instrumental. It channels the signature energy of early 90s hip-hop clubs with a fresh twist you've never heard before. On the flip, 'Whole Grain O's' offers a reimagined instrumental take on 'Oodles of O's' which is packed with reggae chants, added turntablism and signature 'Oh's'. It's a playful, party-ready version that balances just the right amount of nostalgia and brand new style.

Review: The Delights were somewhat unsung heroes from the peak days of the Philly Soul scene back in the 60s and 70s. The local talents were first known as The Twilights and only recorded three demos in their early years though they did land on Phil-L.A of Soul in the mid-seventies. The musicians in the band did also work on several other records with other artists so had plenty of chops as this new 45rpm shows. It features 'Now We're Sure' with soaring vocal harmonies and lovely funky bass next to smooth drum work. The instrumental allows that to shine through even more.

Review: Cannonball continue to provide an unparalleled service to devotees of the funk underground, this time drawing on a lucky acetate find from an undisclosed record spot in Barcelona. Amongst a stack of forgettable bits and pieces emerged this uncredited acetate, which astute digger Eduardo Domingo was able to decipher as the work of Force, a short-lived holy grail funk act led by Frank Filpetti on drums and songwriting duties. 'Holy Moses' came out in its original version in 1974, but this acetate carried a version with French vocals, which is now lovingly presented on this release, soon to be as rare as the original version if the international funk community has anything to do with it.

Review: Launching their new 7" series with a bang, Small Edits enlist the shadowy figure of The Groomer for two deep-digging reworks that balance crate knowledge with pure dancefloor funk. On the A-side, 'S.a.d.e' stretches out into a blissed, slow-burn groove with smoky keys, slinky basslines and a gentle swing conjure a mood that's tender, perfect for warm-up sets or late-night wind downs. Flip it over for 'Commo', a swaggering, shoulder-rolling party starter. Tighter, faster and packed with cheeky rhythmic flair, it leans into peak-time territory with percussive funk licks and chopped vocals that radiate attitude. A low-key but high-quality debuticut loud and made for selectors who know.

Review: Cannonball Records' Tesla Groove is now embarking on a brand new collaboration with Italy's Irma Records. First up is this, a first ever pressing of 'Straight to You' and 'I'm Gonna Love You' on the same 7". They are by Acid Jazz collective Jestofunk, which was made up of three Italian DJs namely Claudio Moz-Art Rispoli, Francesco Farias and Blade and Alessandro Staderini. They dropped a fine album in 1994, Love in a Black Dimension, from which these tunes are taken. The A-side is a flute led jazz-fusion cut with summery warmth and lavish arrangements, and the flip is a disco tinged scorcher with mid-tempo drums, sustained strong synths and a great soul vocals.

Review: Celestial Echo brings us more modern soul magic with the reissue of Glenda McLeod's No Stranger To Love. This track, a beloved crossover between Modern and Northern Soul scenes, has been a collector's favorite, with original copies fetching well over L100. The synth-heavy funk tune caught the attention of Dam-Funk and the Stones Throw crew, boosting its popularity through online mixes. Officially reissued for the first time in 40 years, this record is licenced and remastered to perfection. The vocal version features a smooth electronic sound, high BPM, and classy vocals that captivate from the start. The instrumental version lets the lush synths and groovy rhythm shine. No Stranger To Love is a must-have for funk and soul enthusiasts. This record is hot!

Review: Heavyweight sonic Afro-botics from Nikodemus, Barzo and Mr Doris on 7" wax. The trio team up here with Dinked Records for a double-bill 7" in veins of amapiano and broken beat, primed for crate sifters and floor ambulants alike. On the A, 'Want Some More' delivers Mr. Doris' signature blend of rhythmic muscle and Afro-Latin swang, while the flip flops Nickodemus with Barzo and Zongo Abongo for 'Show Your Power': a bold, percussive cut straddling broken beat, house, and ska. Somewhere between 126 and 128 BPM, both are utter floor finishers and could easily intro your next Afro-house set as they could provide it a sense of continuous, mid-set body.

Review: Windy City collective Future Rootz are all about mixing up worldly electronic sounds, Latin, tropical bass and global jazz. This second volume in their new series does just that with two expressive remixes of iconic Afro-Colombian tracks. On Side A, Sound Culture delivers a modern take on Son Palenque's legendary 'A Pila el Arroz,' which was originally composed by Justo Valdez for Palenque Records. He infuses it with fresh and bubbly bass and hypnotic vocal chants. On side-B, Afroqbano reimagines 'Tropical Scenes' by adding a vibrant, rhythm-heavy twist to the original that sympathetically blends traditional Afro-Colombian sounds with electronic influences into a wiggling bit of irresistible and sunny global fusion.

Review: After a sterling run of 7" soul cuts last year, Cannonball get straight back to it with this supremely rare slice from Split Evolution. The Chicago group had some hits in the late 70s and early 80s, but this one slipped through the cracks. Dave Morley from Tesla Groove Records procured a test pressing of this original which had never enjoyed a wider release until now, as sister label Cannonball presses it up for widespread enjoyment. It's a powerful, beautifully rendered slice of soul from the easy-tempo funk of 'Bedroom Eyes' to pitch-perfect B-side 'Let Me Do It', and the ever-devoted soul community will be quick to snap this one up for sure.