Recorded live on tour in Germany in 1986, here we have "Mystery Mr. Ra" leading a quite rare tentet version of the Arkestra featuring the historical reed section of John Gilmore, Marshal Allen, Eloe Omoe, Danny Ray Thomson and James Jackson, plus trombonist Tyron Hill and an electric rhythms section featuring Marvin "Boogaloo" Smith on drums. This is a beautiful document from an era when Ra, in addition to his usual sound explorations and space hymns, began to introduce a good number of jazz standards (Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn...) along with some exquisite jump-blues originals.

Tracklist:

Side A

Untitled Improvisation 20:54

Side B

1 Discipline 27-II/This World Is Not My Home/Somewhere There (Sun Ra) 5:00
2 East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)(B. Bowman) 8:18
3 Back Alley Blues (Sun Ra) 9:02

Side C

1 Yeah Man! (F. Henderson-N. Sissle) 3:22
2 Prelude To a Kiss (D. Ellington) 6:55
3 Mack the Knife (B. Brecht-K. Weill-Blitzstein) 8:25

Side D

1 Daydream (D. Ellington-B. Strayhorn) 6:25
2 Blue Lou (E. Sampson-I. Mills) 4:24
3 I Dream Too Much (J. Kern) 5:33)

Line Up:

Sun Ra (Keyboards, Vocals)
Tyrone Hill (Trombone)
Marshall Allen (Alto Sax, Flute, Percussion)
Pat Patrick (Alto Sax)
John Gilmore (Tenor Sax, Clarinet)
Eloe Omoe (Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet)
Danny Ray Thompson (Baritone Sax, Flute, Percussion)
James Jackson (Baritone Sax, Infinity Drum)
Bruce Edwards (Electric Guitar)
Rollo Radford (Bass)
Marvin "Boogaloo" Smith (Drums) More

Repress!

The album Angels And Demons At Play was compiled from two different sessions, recorded four years apart (1956 and 1960), that reflect Sun Ra's evolution from hard Chicago bop towards exotic styles that transcended easy categorization. The album was released in 1965 with a distinctive sleeve design by Sun Ra, featuring an identical illustration on both sides, and no sleeve notes. Besides the leader, there's overlapping personnel at the two sessions, yet the two LP sides were somewhat incongruous, demonstrating how much the Arkestra had evolved in four years.

Side A (tracks 1–4) consists of four performances from the marathon 1960 Chicago recording session that produced dozens of tracks released over the subsequent decade on a series of Saturn releases. Two idiosyncratic works, "Tiny Pyramids" and the title track (the latter featuring a flute solo by Marshall Allen), were composed by bassist Ronnie Boykins. "Between Two Worlds," a Sun Ra original, is a short, springy cha-cha. The colorfully abstract "Music From The World Tomorrow," featuring Sun Ra on Cosmic Tone Organ and Phil Cohran on "violin-uke," is the album's revelation — a short "sound experiment" rather than a composition, hinting more than any work on the collection Sunny's future direction.

The B-side of the album (tracks 5–8) goes back to the 1956 first Arkestra sessions, featuring Sunny's emerging "Hard Space Bop." The work is solid, and representative of the foundational years of the Sun Ra legacy. Three of the tracks had been released as singles by Saturn.

The respective sides document two early periods of Sun Ra's musical trajectory. But by the time the album was released in 1965, neither side accurately reflected what Sun Ra was offering fans on the concert stage or on new album releases, much less where his music would head as the decade continued to unfold. Compare Angels and Demons to the albums Strange Strings (recorded 1965) and Atlantis (recorded 1967-68), which sonically and stylistically are, as Sun Ra might say, "from another planet."

Side Epic - Track 1: Sun Ra and His Arkestra - featuring Marshall Allen : Angels and Demons at Play / running time: 2.57 cut at 33rpm [ recorded in 1960 ]

Side Epic - Track 2: Sun Ra and His Arkestra - featuring Marshall Allen : Between Two Worlds / running time: 1.58 cut at 33rpm [ recorded in 1960 ]

Side Cosmic - Sun Ra and His Arkestra - featuring Marshall Allen : Spontaneous Simplicity / running time: 7.58 cut at 33rpm [ recorded in 1966 ]

Pressed as a heavy weight single 70g with a picture sleeve.

Copyright Sun Ra LLC / Publishing Enterplanetary Koncepts.
© Art Yard Ltd 2021 More

The planets align this October as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, release their first studio album in over twenty years, ‘Swirling’.
More

The planets align this October as the mighty Sun Ra Arkestra, under the direction of the maestro Marshall Allen, release their first studio album in over twenty years, ‘Swirling’.
More

UK supergroup Flock return with their anticipated sophomore album ‘Flock II’. Comprising an exceptional line-up featuring Bex Burch (fresh from her debut solo album on International Anthem), Sarathy Korwar, Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Unknown To Known), Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming / Soccer96) and Al MacSween (Kefaya), the new recordings showcase Flock’s ability to push the boundaries of the composition process and craft unique tracks based on their collective spirit.

Tracklist
1.1Druidstone Incantation
1.2Turned Skyward
1.3Cat's Paws Effect
1.4Meet Your Shadow
1.5Large Magellanic Cloud
1.6No One Is Spared Who Goes Down The Deep Well
1.7Dance Until You Shatter Yourself
1.8A Thousand Miles Lost
1.9Capillary Waves
1.10Edge Of Empty

listen: https://listen.k7.com/9203b88a-600b-45e1-9345-af6c0e0943d9 More

UK supergroup Flock return with their anticipated sophomore album ‘Flock II’. Comprising an exceptional line-up featuring Bex Burch (fresh from her debut solo album on International Anthem), Sarathy Korwar, Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Unknown To Known), Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming / Soccer96) and Al MacSween (Kefaya), the new recordings showcase Flock’s ability to push the boundaries of the composition process and craft unique tracks based on their collective spirit.

Tracklist
1.1Druidstone Incantation
1.2Turned Skyward
1.3Cat's Paws Effect
1.4Meet Your Shadow
1.5Large Magellanic Cloud
1.6No One Is Spared Who Goes Down The Deep Well
1.7Dance Until You Shatter Yourself
1.8A Thousand Miles Lost
1.9Capillary Waves
1.10Edge Of Empty

listen: https://listen.k7.com/9203b88a-600b-45e1-9345-af6c0e0943d9 More

LP housed in tip-on sleeve with OBI, poster & insert
Strut proudly presents a special edition, deluxe repress of Sun Ra’s classic ‘Lanquidity’, for the 25th anniversary of the label. Housed in a tip-on sleeve with OBI strip, this new special editions features an A2 poster including a rare Veryl Oakland photograph of Sun Ra in his home, as well as liner notes by Tom Buchler (Philly Jazz), Michael Ray and Danny Ray Thompson (Sun Ra Arkestra) and Bob Blank.

Tracklist
1.1Lanquidity
1.2Where Pathways Meet
1.3That's How I Feel
1.4Twin Stars Of Thence
1.5There Are Other Worlds (They Have Not Told You Of)


Listen: listen.k7.com/3ae09f5d-3fca-4e24-bd57-c28788baddb0 More

Strut presents an exclusive reissue of Oneness Of Juju’s classic 1976 album Space Jungle Luv, an essential addition to the Black Fire Records reissue series.

Tracklist
1.1River Luvrite
1.2Follow Me
1.3Soul Love Now
1.4Space Jungle Funk
1.5The Connection
1.6Love's Messenger More

Strut presents an exclusive reissue of Experience Unlimited’s 1977 debut album, Free Yourself, featuring a brand new interview with bandleader and co-founder ‘Sugar Bear.` This seminal recording blends soul, jazz, and funk-rock, laying the foundation for Washington D.C.'s go-go scene.

Tracklisting
A1. IT’S ALL IMAGINATION
A2. FUNCTUS
A3. PEACE GONE AWAY
A4. FREE YOURSELF
B1. HEY YOU
B2. PEOPLE
B3. FUNKY CONSCIOUSNESS More

Strut presents a brand new reissue of Juju’s powerful Afrocentric album ‘Chapter Two: Nia’ from 1974, originally released on Strata East.

Tracklisting:

A1. INTRODUCTION 2.40
A2. CONTRADICTION (FOR THULANI) 5.10
A3. BLACK EXPERIENCE 3.44
A4. NIA 8.36
B1. THE END OF THE BUTTERFLY KING More

Strut proudly presents a special edition repress of the groundbreaking ‘Nigeria 70’ compilation, now available on translucent green vinyl 3LP to celebrate the label’s 25th Anniversary.


Tracklist
1.1Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders- Alo Mi Alo (Parts 1
1.2Segun Bucknor & His Revolution- La La La
1.3Lijadu Sisters- Orere Elejigbo
1.4Peter King- Shango
1.5Sahara All Stars Band Jos- Enjoy Yourself
2.1Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa
2.2Tunji Oyelana & The Benders- Ifa
2.3Ofo The Black Company- Allah Wakbarr
2.4The Funkees- Dancing Time
2.5Monomono- Tire Loma Da Nigbehin
2.6Bala Miller & The Great Music Pyrameeds Of Afrika- Ikon
3.1Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes- Akayan Ekassa
3.2Shina Williams & His African Percussionists- Agboju Log
3.3Gasper Lawal- Kita Kita
3.4King Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Ja Fun Mi (Instrum More

Strut introduces a pioneering new compilation 'A Dancefloor In Ndola,' curated by revered East African DJ, Kampire. This release marks an evolution in Strut's approach to compilations, showcasing emerging DJ talent from across the world and embracing an innovative approach to musical discovery from the next wave of selectors.

Tracklist:
A1 PRINCESS AYA SARAH – O WINA TIENGE 9.52
A2 META & FEZA – MIVÉ TEMOIN 8.19
B1 THE AFRICAN HOUSE PARTY PROJECT FEAT. SPLASH, PATRICIA
MAJALISA & DALOM KIDS – P-COQ 5.16
B2 V-MASH – NAUGHTY BOY 5.20
B3 DI GROOVY GIRLS – RIRIMI ROTSOMBELA 4.01
B4 TSHALA MUANA – DJEPUÉ 3.41
C1 LADY ISA – DJAMBO 4.00
C2 PEMBEY SHEIRO – SALA NI TOTO 6.39
C3 PRINCESSE MANSIA M’BILA – NGOMA MANSIA 5.03
D1 SAMBA MAPANGALA AND ORCHESTRA VIRUNGA – MASHARIKI 3.31
D2 INTERNATIONAL ZAISTARS & NENE TSHAKU – JE T’AIME AU PLURIEL
5.55
D3 M.D. SHIRINDA & GAZA SISTERS – MABAZI 2.50 More

Strut proudly presents the official remastered reissues of Lafayette Afro Rock Band's elusive funk/Afro original album, 'Malik,' originally released in 1974 and Soul Makossa' from 1973, both pressed on black vinyl LP.

Tracklist

1.1Djungi
1.2Raff
1.3Conga
1.4Avi-Vo
1.5Malik
1.6Darkest Light
1.7Baba Hya More

Strut proudly presents the official remastered reissues of Lafayette Afro Rock Band's elusive funk/Afro original album, 'Malik,' originally released in 1974 and Soul Makossa' from 1973, both pressed on black vinyl LP.

Tracklist
1.1Soul Makossa
1.2Azeta
1.3Oglenon
1.4Voodounon
1.5Hihache
1.6Nicky More

White Vinyl 2LP (Contains original album and mono-mix retrieved from original tapes)

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Strut label, we are delighted to unveil a special edition of a landmark album within the realm of African music - Mulatu Astatke"s "Mulatu Of Ethiopia". Recorded in New York in 1972, this pivotal album marks a juncture in Astatke"s musical journey when he adeptly fused various styles to craft the distinctive genre known as Ethio-jazz. For this special edition, the release features the original stereo mix of the full album, as well as a special "mono-mix" of each track retrieved from the original 2" tapes, pressed on opaque white vinyl 2LP.



A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA More

9-piece powerhouse Nubiyan Twist embark on a fresh musical odyssey with their vibrant fourth album 'Find Your Flame’. Over 12-track the band seamlessly weaves together global grooves, soul and jazz; expertly intertwined with electronic elements, horn-led melodies and spontaneous improvisation.

Tracklist
1.1Lights Out (Ft. Nile Rodgers)
1.2All The Same (Ft. Ria Moran)
1.3Woman
1.4You Don't Know Me (Ft. Corto Alto)
1.5Carry Me (Ft. Seun Kuti)
1.6Battle Isn't Over
1.7So Mi Stay
1.8Pray For Me Part
1.9Pray For Me Part
1.10Reach My Soul
1.11Find Your Flame
1.12Slow Breath (Ft. Mamani Keïta) More

9-piece powerhouse Nubiyan Twist embark on a fresh musical odyssey with their vibrant fourth album 'Find Your Flame’. Over 12-track the band seamlessly weaves together global grooves, soul and jazz; expertly intertwined with electronic elements, horn-led melodies and spontaneous improvisation.

Tracklist
1.1Lights Out (Ft. Nile Rodgers)
1.2All The Same (Ft. Ria Moran)
1.3Woman
1.4You Don't Know Me (Ft. Corto Alto)
1.5Carry Me (Ft. Seun Kuti)
1.6Battle Isn't Over
1.7So Mi Stay
1.8Pray For Me Part
1.9Pray For Me Part
1.10Reach My Soul
1.11Find Your Flame
1.12Slow Breath (Ft. Mamani Keïta) More

We are happy to announce this Sun Ra tile for this year's RecordStoreDay release!

Please note that stock is limited and needs to be allocated so you might not get your full requested quantity

Introducing a musical treasure from the enigmatic Sun Ra's expansive discography, Strut Records proudly presents "Inside The Light World: Sun Ra Meets The OVC”. This extraordinary album unveils previously unreleased recordings from the year 1986 for the very first time, showcasing a unique chapter in the Sun Ra catalogue, officially released for Record Store Day 2024.

Listen: https://on.soundcloud.com/kVj3m

Tracklisting:

A1 CALLING PLANET EARTH 11:01
A2 THEME OF THE STARGAZERS 8:35
A3 LOVE IN OUTER SPACE (DX7 INTERLUDE) 2:34
B1 LOVE IN OUTER SPACE 6:32
B2 STARDUST FROM TOMORROW 5:19
B3 EL IS A SOUND OF JOY 7:44
B4 SUNSET ON THE NILE (DX7 INTERLUDE) 3:20
C1 SUNSET ON THE NILE 7:39
C2 EAST OF THE SUN 4:39
C3 SATURN RINGS 6:03
C4 CALLING PLANET EARTH (PIANO INTERLUDE) 2:18
D1 DISCIPLINE 27-II 22:33 More

We are happy to announce this Greg Foat & Gigi Masin tile for this year's RecordStoreDay release!

Please note that stock is limited and needs to be allocated so you might not get your full requested quantity

Fresh off the heels of their critically acclaimed collaboration album, Dolphin, UK jazz metro Greg Foat and Venetian electronic luminary Gigi Masin join forces once again for The Fish Factory Sessions, an exclusive release for Record Store Day 2024.

1LP pressed on translucent sky blue vinyl housed in an untreated card sleeve with spot varnish.

Listen: listen.k7.com/53a48642-00a5-40c8-ae62-7ecf308cf8b2

More

Strut proudly presents the first official remastered reissue of Lafayette Afro Rock Band's elusive funk/Afro original album, 'Malik,' originally released in 1974.

Tracklist

1.1Djungi
1.2Raff
1.3Conga
1.4Avi-Vo
1.5Malik
1.6Darkest Light
1.7Baba Hya More

Strut proudly presents the first official remastered reissue of the funk/Afro classic, Lafayette Afro Rock Band's 'Soul Makossa' from 1973.

Tracklist
1.1Soul Makossa
1.2Azeta
1.3Oglenon
1.4Voodounon
1.5Hihache
1.6Nicky More

Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids are back with their first major new studio album in over 3 years, an epic, sprawling new work exploring the future, the past and the urgent reality of the present, ‘Afro Futuristic Dreams’.

Tracklist:
A1/1 AFRO FUTURISTIC DREAMS
A2/2 THANK YOU GOD
B1/3 POLICE DEM
B2/4 FIRST PEOPLES

C1/5 TRUTH TO POWER
C2/6 RE - MEMORY
C3/7 GARLAND ROSE
D1/8 REQUIEM FOR THE ANCESTORS
D2/9 NICE IT UP More

Reissue of Makaya McCraven"s modern classic, International Anthem debut "In The Moment" (2015) One venue, 28 shows and 48 hours of live, improvised music. These are the ingredients for Chicago-based drumme Makaya McCraven"s album In the Moment. However, McCraven, as the producer he also is, has not just thrown some random sounds together. Instead, he has carefully culled, cut and remixed the music into a coherent whole and 19 complex and catchy compositions emerge from his hands.

Tracklisting:


1.1Exploration Intro
1.2The Jaunt
1.3Slightest Right
1.4First Thing First
1.5Lonely
1.6Gnawa
1.7On The Spot
1.8Butterscotch
1.9TomTom
1.10Three Fifths A Man
2.1In The Moment
2.2Quartz
2.3Just Stay Right There
2.4Untitled
2.5Requests
2.6Time Travel
2.7The Encore
2.8The Drop
2.9Finances More

International Anthem proudly presents "Step on Step", a double LP collection of newly unearthed solo home recordings created by enigmatic producer, arranger, and composer Charles Stepney in the basement of his home on the Southside of Chicago during the years before his untimely death in 1976.

Tracklist:
A1. Roll Tape
A2. Gimme Some Sugar
A3. Gotta Dig It To Dig It
A4. No Credit For This
A5. Roadtrip
A6. On Your Face
B1. That's The Way Of The World
B2. Imagination
B3. In The Basement
B4. Business

C1. Look B4U Leap
C2. Around The House
C3. Funky Sci Fi
C4. Mini Mugg
C5. Chicago Independent
D1. Surround Stereo
D2. Black Gold
D3. Notes From Dad
D4. Rubie & Charles
D5. Greatness
D6. Step On Step More

Berlin-based British composer, percussionist, and instrument maker Bex Burch was invited to spend a month in the US by International Anthem in Summer 2022. Burch immersed herself in the label’s creative community and listened to what it gave her, making field recordings and allowing There Is Only Love and Fear to emerge from the collaborations and environments she encountered.
Tracklisting
1 Dawn blessings (feat. Macie Stewart)
2 If I was you, I'd be doing exactly the same
3 Don't go back to sleep (feat. Dan Bitney)
4 Fruit smoothie with peanut butter
5 Pardieu
6 Start before you're ready
7 You thought you were free?
8 "Joy is not meant to be a crumb"
9 On falling (feat. Diego Gaeta)
10 Follow me, I make you happy
11 This is the sound of one voice
12 When love begins More

Strut presents the official reissue of a landmark album in the field of African music, Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ from 1972.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA More

On October 15th & 16th 2020, drummer Daniel Villarreal was joined by guitarist Jeff Parker and bassist Anna Butterss for two afternoons of recording in the backyard of Chicali Outpost in Los Angeles.
For all three musicians, it was the first ensemble recording session they’d done in-person since the pandemic locked the world down just seven months prior. Some choice moments from the sessions made it onto Villarreal’s critically-acclaimed 2022 album Panamá 77, bust most of the music remained unreleased.
Lados B is a deep dive into the high-level spontaneous music made by Villarreal, Parker and Butterss across those two days in 2020. Villarreal is heard leading the group through various rhythmic modes and structures for improvisation - flow as informed by the Latin soul of Fania Records as it is by the otherworldly trance of Brain Records - while Parker and Butterss draw on their extensive experience playing free together (as heard on Parker’s recently-released Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy, and the LA side of Makaya McCraven’s 2018 LP Universal Beings) to build harmonic buoys for their spontaneous melodicism. The result is a beautifully vivid illustration of context, creativity, and collective composition from a particularly rich moment in history.

Tracklist:
1. Traveling With
2. Sunset Cliffs
3. Republic
4. Chicali Outpost
5. Bring It
6. Salute
7. Daytime Nighttime
8. Things Can Be Calm
9. Rug Moti More

Formed in Mamelodi township near Pretoria, the group started out as Malombo Jazz Men with Julian Bahula on malombo drums, Abbey Cindi on flute and Philip Tabane on guitar. Fusing traditional and improvised rhythms with jazz, Malombo became renowned as one of the first South African bands to fully connect jazz with the African traditions. Despite his undoubted genius, Tabane became erratic on tour and Bahula brought in another Mamelodi-based talent, guitarist Lucas “Lucky” Ranku, renaming the band Malombo Jazz Makers. The group played stadiums and festivals and were soon signed to Gallo. Recording at a studio in Pretoria, the trio debuted with the album ‘Malompo Jazz’ in 1966, showcasing the simple, spacious beauty of the Malombo sound and Abbey Cindi’s compositions, with Mahotella Queens’ Hilda Tloubatla on guest vocals. The partner follow-up album ‘Malombo Jazz Makers Vol. 2’ was recorded a year later, continuing the earthy flow of Malombo’s music. The two albums have since been recognised as unique landmarks of South African jazz through popular tracks like ‘Sibathathu’, ‘Jikeleza’ and ‘Emakhaya’. Alongside full original artwork, the albums feature a new interview with Julian Bahula.

Tracklist:
A1. Ngivulele B1. Abbey's Body
A2. Udondolo B2. Vukani
A3. Soul of Africa B3. Hleziphi
A4. Jolly Journey B4. Sibathathu
A5. Umkhosi B5. Malombi Walk
A6. Majazana B6. Emoubane More

Strut present the first ever compilation of Balka Sound, bringing together their influential 1980s recordings. Hailing from Congo-Brazzaville and led by revered vocalist and ngonfi player, Nkibi “Lusialala” Albert, Balka Sound created their own unique musical world, re imagining traditional Congolese Balka rhythms with electric guitars, electric bass and drums, alongside the traditional 5-string ngonfi.

Tracklist:
1.1Ah Lusialala
1.2Ni Kuel'ko
1.3Bia Sala
1.4Basi Bayele
1.5Lekou
1.6Bukut' Bua Kinguengui
1.7Ha Ta Ba Betu Ku Bula
2.1Ku Mavula
2.2Kidilu
2.3Wa Yiwou
2.4Ka Mu Wila Ko
2.5Nia Nia
2.6Kwele More

Influential jazz collective Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids return with an epic new opus, ‘Shaman!’, released on 7th August featuring a fresh line-up including original 1970s Pyramids member

More

Strut presents the official reissue of a landmark album in the field of African music, Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Mulatu Of Ethiopia’ from 1972.
A1 MULATU 5:00
A2 MASCARAM SETABA 2:40
A3 DEWEL 4:00
B1 KULUNMANQUELESHI 2:05
B2 KASALEFKUT-HULU 2:25
B3 MUNAYE 3:15
B4 CHIFARA More

Strut and Art Yard present another exclusive from the vast catalogue of cosmic jazz pioneer Sun Ra: a previously unreleased radio session most likely recorded at the WXPN FM radio studios in Philadelphia, 1974-5.
More