5065007965429
5065007965436

Umoja

Nicola Conte

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Format: 2LP

Cat No: FARO239DLP

Release Date:  21 July 2023

Label:  Far Out Recordings

Packaging Type:  Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)

No of Units:  2

Barcode:  5065007965429

Genres:  Jazz  Funk  

Release Date:  21 July 2023

Label:  Far Out Recordings

Packaging Type:  Digipak

No of Units:  1

Barcode:  5065007965436

Genres:  Jazz  Funk  

  • Description

    Renowned Italian spiritual jazz master, DJ, producer, guitarist, and bandleader Nicola Conte proudly presents his new album Umoja via London based label Far Out Recordings.

    A joyous exultation across ten tracks, Umoja taps into the abundant well of knowledge Conte has amassed over his career as connoisseuring compiler and archivist of deep jazz, latin, afrofuturist, bossa-nova and soul music from around the world. Expressing unity, oneness and harmony in Swahili, Umoja coalesces universal feelings through the multifaceted global music Conte has spent his life studying and researching.

    Having released music with Blue Note, Impulse! and Schema records, Nicola Conte's relationship with Far Out began over a shared love of hard-edged bossa-nova and swinging samba-jazz. Between 2009-2013 Nicola Conte compiled five volumes of forgotten 60s Brazilian music for his Viagem series. He then released his critically acclaimed Natural album: a collaboration with vocalist Steffania Dippiero, featuring jazz standards alongside covers of lesser known Brazilian gems.

    The music of Umoja draws on the deep-dug 70's independent spiritual and free jazz sounds, private-press soul records, and African and Afro Caribbean rhythms in Conte's collection. But he equally recognises his debt to many of the decade's more celebrated musical icons, such as North American cosmic jazz masters Lonnie Liston Smith and Gary Bartz, and Afrobeat originators Fela Kuti and Tony Allen.

    Since founding the Bari-based bohemian cultural movement and club night Fez at the dawn of the nineties, Conte has proven to be a pillar of the contemporary, international soul-jazz scene. Composed alongside his long time friend, guitarist Alberto Parmegiani, Conte brings together a dazzling host of guests from around the world, including award winning British vocalist Zara Mcfarlane, acclaimed Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy, french vibes player Simon Mullier, US vocalist Myles Sanko, rising South African drummer Fernando Damon, former Roy Hargrove bassist Ameen Saleem and Serbian flute sensation Milena Jancuric.

    Proudly revivalist, Umoja was recorded direct to analog tape, with just two takes for each track. "Searching for an unadulterated, spontaneous, almost improvised feeling", Nicola made sure that the few overdubs were also transferred to tape in order to retain the colour and warmth of the analog sound. "Very little post production or editing has been added, so what you hear is largely what happened in those magical live sessions".

    Umoja will be released on the 30th June via Far Out Recordings on double vinyl LP, CD and digital. The vinyl release has been cut at 45RPM for, super-loud, high definition sound.

    Description

    Renowned Italian spiritual jazz master, DJ, producer, guitarist, and bandleader Nicola Conte proudly presents his new album Umoja via London based label Far Out Recordings.

    A joyous exultation across ten tracks, Umoja taps into the abundant well of knowledge Conte has amassed over his career as connoisseuring compiler and archivist of deep jazz, latin, afrofuturist, bossa-nova and soul music from around the world. Expressing unity, oneness and harmony in Swahili, Umoja coalesces universal feelings through the multifaceted global music Conte has spent his life studying and researching.

    Having released music with Blue Note, Impulse! and Schema records, Nicola Conte's relationship with Far Out began over a shared love of hard-edged bossa-nova and swinging samba-jazz. Between 2009-2013 Nicola Conte compiled five volumes of forgotten 60s Brazilian music for his Viagem series. He then released his critically acclaimed Natural album: a collaboration with vocalist Steffania Dippiero, featuring jazz standards alongside covers of lesser known Brazilian gems.

    The music of Umoja draws on the deep-dug 70's independent spiritual and free jazz sounds, private-press soul records, and African and Afro Caribbean rhythms in Conte's collection. But he equally recognises his debt to many of the decade's more celebrated musical icons, such as North American cosmic jazz masters Lonnie Liston Smith and Gary Bartz, and Afrobeat originators Fela Kuti and Tony Allen.

    Since founding the Bari-based bohemian cultural movement and club night Fez at the dawn of the nineties, Conte has proven to be a pillar of the contemporary, international soul-jazz scene. Composed alongside his long time friend, guitarist Alberto Parmegiani, Conte brings together a dazzling host of guests from around the world, including award winning British vocalist Zara Mcfarlane, acclaimed Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy, french vibes player Simon Mullier, US vocalist Myles Sanko, rising South African drummer Fernando Damon, former Roy Hargrove bassist Ameen Saleem and Serbian flute sensation Milena Jancuric.

    Proudly revivalist, Umoja was recorded direct to analog tape, with just two takes for each track.

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Freedom & Progress
      • 2. Arise

      Side 2

      • 1. Soul Of The People
      • 2. Heritage
      • 3. Flying Circles

      Disc 2

      Side 1

      • 1. Umoja Unity
      • 2. Life Forces

      Side 2

      • 1. Dance Of Love & Peace Part 1
      • 2. Dance Of Love & Peace Part 2
      • 3. Into The Light Of Love

    Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Arise (feat. Zara McFarlane)
      • 2. Dance Of Love And Peace Part 1 (feat. Bridgette Amofah)
      • 3. Life Forces (feat. Zara McFarlane)
      • 4. Flying Circles (feat. Bridgette Amofah)
      • 5. Freedom & Progress (feat. Zara McFarlane)
      • 6. Soul Of The People (feat. Bridgette Amofah)
      • 7. Heritage
      • 8. Into The Light Of Love (feat. Miles Sanko)
      • 9. Umoja Unity
      • 10. Dance Of Love & Peace Part. 2 (feat. Bridgette Amofah)
      • 11. Arise (Instrumental)
      • 12. Into The Light Of Love (Instrumental)