Mixtape #172


It’s no secret we were completely drawn in by Sheldon Agwu’s work after stumbling upon his music earlier this year. A longtime presence in London’s music scene, Agwu has collaborated with artists like Jordan Rakei, Yussef Dayes and Bonobo, and held musical director roles at iconic venues like Jazz Cafe and XOYO. The London-based guitarist, producer and multi-instrumentalist released Kintsugi in April, a stunning and sublime debut inspired by and named after the Japanese art of embracing imperfection. With this album, Agwu channels years of exploration into a deeply personal and affecting work, blending virtuosic electric guitar with influences from jazz, hip-hop, trip hop, and ambient textures. So we’re over the moon to have him at the helm of this month’s mixtape. Featuring tracks from Jon Hassell, Thelonious Monk, Bitchin Bajas, Madlib, Sam Gendel and more, it opens a window into the creative world that helps shape his own music. Press play and drift away.

  1. Andrew Pekler – Forever (Is No Time At All) [Faitiche]
  2. Thelonious Monk – Ugly Beauty [Columbia]
  3. Jon Hassell – Empire V [Editions EG]
  4. Daniel Villarreal – Things Can Be Calm [International Anthem]
  5. Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes – Marvis [International Anthem]
  6. Dorothy Ashby – Wax & Wane [Cadet]
  7. Kenny Burrell – Theme IV, Recapitulation [Cadet]
  8. Yesterdays New Quintet (Madlib) – Julani [Stones Throw Records]
  9. Ken Brown – Continental Drift [Temporary Residence]
  10. Jeff Parker – Jrifted [International Anthem]
  11. Can – Spray [United Artists Records]
  12. Tony Williams – Circa 45 [Polydor]
  13. Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas – Clock No Clock [Drag City]
  14. Bilal – Evr Chngin Nrml
  15. Triosk Meets Jan Jelinek – The Lake [~scape]
  16. Bitchin Bajas – Amorpha [Drag City]
  17. Sam Gendel – Two Tone [Leaving Records]

Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson & Sam Wilkes share second single, ‘Arpy’

Photo: Roman Koval

Guitarist Gregory Uhlmann, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and bassist Sam Wilkes, who are some of most daring and brilliant musicians of the LA new jazz scene, have recently joined forces for a new chamber trio. They had previously announced the release of a debut collaborative album, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, and shared then the immersive and enthralling ‘Frica’, which instantly got us under their spell. Ahead of the album’s release on March 14th through International Anthem, they are teasing it again with new single ‘Arpy’, an utterly engrossing, emotive and atmospheric track. Take a listen now.