Be With Records

Ahmad Jamal is a jazz giant and The Awakening is his iconic masterpiece. The landmark deep trio session - recorded in NYC and released on Impulse! in 1970 - is an essential album and perennially sought-after on vinyl, so Be With Records are delighted to make it available again.As a "Zen master of jazz piano" and one of its greatest innovators, Jamal evolved his elegant sound with this adventurous record. The Awakening showcased his fast, richly melodic chops in remarkable variation. A consummate orchestrator of his own complex arrangements, Jamal was emboldened here by his potent sidemen. Backed by the exquisite timing of bassist Jamil Nasser and the precision of Frank Gant's drumming, he was liberated by the reliability of the trio setup. Free to juggle rhythmic dexterity with harmonic intricacy, Jamal brilliantly performed groove-oriented compositions written by himself, alongside wonderful renditions of tracks by Herbie Hancock, Oliver Nelson and Antonio Carlos Jobim.It is impossible to discuss The Awakening without acknowledging its indelible mark on golden age rap. A defining album of hip-hop culture, producers of the highest calibre have famously sampled elements of this timeless record to lace all-timers with a foundation for their most legendary tracks. Indeed, both the experimental "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration" and Shadez Of Brooklyn's seminal "Change" utilised Jamal's sparse title-track to stunning effect.A melancholy motif from "I Love Music" was employed by Pete Rock for Nas's crucial "The World Is Yours" whilst, over a more abstract refrain from the same track, Jeru memorably delivered his "Me Or The Papes" ultimatum. Over in Chicago, No I.D. elevated Common's peerless "Resurrection" by lifting a precise riff from Jamal's plaintive rendition of "Dolphin Dance" whilst the head-nod quality of All Natural's hypnotic "Renaissance" owes it all to the looped keys of Jamal's take on "You're My Everything".With bold beauty and unhurried grace, Ahmad Jamal plays piano differently from everyone else. He was a huge inspiration to Miles Davis and influential to how Wynton Kelly performed across Kind of Blue. In his autobiography, Miles describes being blown away by Jamal's dynamic "concept of space, his lightness of touch [and] his understatement". It's why The Awakening will always be so revered.In line with the quality of all Be With reissues, the record is presented in a luxurious gatefold sleeve and comes adorned with the original eye-catching artwork throughout, along with the original sleeve notes. Simon Francis' sensitive mastering ensures the sonics are majestic throughout and, for the first time, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g.

A sublime slice of boogie-funk, Alec Mansion has steadily gained the status of a "crate-digging classic". Accordingly, it has been near-impossible to unearth a physical copy in good condition for many years. Be With is delighted to present the first ever vinyl reissue, remastered in time to grace the discerning terraces and boat parties of the coming summer months.Originally released in 1983, the LP arrived with impeccable credentials; programming duties were handled by Dan Lacksman (the brains behind Telex, the "Belgian Kraftwerk") whilst production came from Marc Moulin (of jazz-rock fusion heroes Placebo). At the time its merits were mainly praised by radio and studio heads. Today, Mansion's masterpiece is lauded by boogie aficionados from Liege to Los Angeles.It was during a stay in Chicago that the Belgian took inspiration from the communal spirit and sheer power of black American funk. In a recent interview with Vice's Noisey, Mansion cited The Whispers, Prince and Chic as key touchstones in his quest for his desired sound. Upon finessing his idiosyncratic European style of funk for his self-titled sophomore LP, Mansion flirted with perfection.Showcasing a staggering run of instant (non)-hits, this sonically stunning album can be viewed as both of its time and, yet, aeons ahead of it.Amongst the myriad highlights, "Ou Es-Tu" recalls neck-breaking G-Funk roughly a decade before it was ubiquitous. Its swagger conjures the fantasy sound of Dam-Funk producing fellow Francophone masters Phoenix, circa United; all buzzing synths and snapping drums underpinning vocals that ooze European style.The glorious synth-workout "Dans L'eau De Nice" boasts an inordinate amount of instrumental flourishes. Augmented by Mansion's vocal class, it still feels tight and perfectly formed like all timeless pop music, and it has since become infamous as a joyous end-of-night singalong hit for house parties.The startlingly confident "Marche" borders on the arrogant; its sun-drenched cool inviting both awe and irresistible movement. "Quand Je Serai Grand" blasts lazer-guided synth washes over an undeniable groove that would've made Nile Rodgers swoon as he prepped Like A Virgin.The acid squelch that propels the strutting "Laid, Bête, Et Méchant" delivers infectious bounce with enviable abandon whilst the fantastically wonky "Trop Triste" garnered renewed attention after featuring on Zaltan's beloved Quartier Choc mixtape.On the rare occasions it appears on the secondary market, it commands eye-watering figures. A record that has eluded even the most seasoned of vinyl freaks, this officially licensed reissue enables a wider audience to now discover its undoubted genius. Dovetailing neatly with the recent interest in forgotten boogie and obscure Euro-pop, this timely reappearance of a certified lost treasure is sure to be one of the summer's essential releases.As sophisticated and multi-layered as the best of the genre, this is highly recommended if you dig for analogue boogie/synth-funk as well as the more leftfield elements of slick 80s pop. The original artwork of both jacket and sumptuous, full-colour inner sleeve has been faithfully restored; the latter featuring Mansion's memorable lyrics emblazoned across the pleasing jazzy early 80s design. Sonically, Simon Francis' deft mastering adds clarity and muscle throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g.

Long Island's AIR only made one album. As solitary statements go, it's exceptional. Divinely elevated by Googie Coppola's beautiful voice, this transcendent masterpiece of soulful jazz-rock fusion has become increasingly tricky to track down. 45 years on from its initial release, Be With Records finally make it available again on vinyl.The highlights are many and memorable. From the irresistible groove of "Mr. Man" to the heavenly piano vocal of "Jail Cell"; from the funk-fuelled brass breaks in "Man Is Free" to the haunting, unforgettable "Sister Bessie", it is easy to understand why this record has been long revered amongst aficionados.Yet the entire record is without weakness and, therefore, selecting standout tracks seems redundant. If ever there was an album to surrender to in full, this is it. A perfect blend of rock and jazz, the record's greatest asset is surely Googie's uniquely expressive voice - the like of which we'll never hear again.Much like the music contained within, the original jacket was a thing of total beauty, presented as a lavish gatefold with a distinctive die-cut logo on the front flap. Accordingly, in keeping with the quality of all Be With reissues, this has been painstakingly recreated, along with the original liner notes. Sonically, Simon Francis' dextrous mastering adds real clarity and muscle throughout and, as ever, it has been pressed at a reassuringly weighty 180g.Treasured by 'selector' luminaries such as Jeremy Underground, MCDE, Floating Points and Hunee, this startling record is beloved by everyone who has heard it. Buying the original - if you can find it - would set you back a small fortune so Be With's latest archival release is one that is already being warmly welcomed from all corners of the global record-buying community.

An exquisite slice of psychedelic jazz-funk, Funk Factory was criminally overlooked upon release but became a crate-diggers classic over time. Yes, the LP is most famous for containing the peerless dusty groove of "Rien Ne Va Plus", heavily lifted by the Beastie Boys for their Paul's Boutique standout "Car Thief". Yes, you'd be correct to assume said gem is worthy of the price of admission alone. Yet, to those in the know, Funk Factory represents so much more than a Dust Brothers sample-source. Indeed, the entire album represents a space-aged opus, featuring tripped-out keys, tight drums and baked synths, all laced by Urszula Dudziak's ethereal vocals drifting around the exceptional instrumentation.Funk Factory were boldly led by brilliant Polish violinist and saxophonist Michal Urbaniak and vocalist Dudziak. Two additional, accomplished Polish musicians were involved: virtuoso keyboardist Wlodek Gulgowski and singer Bernard Kafka, founder and leader of great Polish vocal group Novi Singers. To augment this solid foundation, a sensational American rhythm section was assembled, with bassists Anthony Jackson and Tony Levin, drummers Steve Gadd and Gerald Brown and guitarists Barry Finnerty and John Abercrombie.Legend has it that Urbaniak created this seminal record in response to his American colleagues' claims that Eastern European musicians were not "funky". Funk Factory demonstrates that Urbaniak and his cohorts could play funk as well as any American musician. As sophisticated and multi-layered as the best of the genre, it deserves to be as canonical as the greatest works of Herbie Hancock and George Duke. Accomplished and utterly unique, this intoxicating blend of crack musicians created an irresistibly heady dose of transportive funk that sounds every bit as vital today as it would have in 1975.Original copies are prohibitively expensive so this officially licensed 180g version enables a wider audience to now discover its genius. Dovetailing neatly with the recent interest in forgotten Eastern European grooves, this timely release of a true lost treasure is sure to be one of the year's essential vinyl reissues.

Riding high on the crest of the global love for Hawaiian 'Island Funk', Be With Records team up with Aloha Got Soul to present a timely vinyl reissue of Nohelani Cypriano's Nohelani. Sure to be one of the year's essential reissues, the album's irresistible blend of tropical-tinted soul, funk and rare groove sounds every bit as fresh today as it would've in 1979.Perhaps the most sought-after record of its type, locating a vinyl copy of 'Nohelani' would previously have set you back a small fortune. Her records are something of a Balearic holy grail, with this album the holiest of the lot. Original copies are in such short supply - trading for upwards of £100 on secondary markets - it's easy to see why news of this first ever reissue has been welcomed by so many.This release is officially licensed and has been lovingly mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis (Claremont 56 mastering engineer) It has been pressed on audiophile 180gram vinyl for the first time and features the original artwork.A record to surrender to in full rather than consume in pieces, it pivots around centrepiece 'Island Boy'. A record of many colours, the LP is at once spaced-out boogie and sweet soul. The legendary 'Lihue' is worth the entry fee alone. A gloriously carefree showcase of a uniquely Hawaiian musical hybrid, this reissue provides a vital reminder of just how beautiful and important Nohelani is.