Koka Mass Jazz - Groovy Jam Shoes (Cold Busted)

Koka Mass Jazz is the solo-project-turned-party from Konstantin Katsarski. Katarski is a sound designer, musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and engineer -- he does it all -- based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Konstantin could remain a solo artist, but after creating the concept of Koka Mass Jazz in 2013 a band of musicians quickly became involved. Their sound is that of a drunken funk brigade … fun and full of embellishments. Listeners can expect this talented group's work to cover styles ranging across funky breaks, nu jazz, funk, soul, and even a bit of afro-beat. Much of the music and arrangement of the songs are composed by Katarski while the lyrics are written by vocalist Denitsa Georgieva.

Their first single, "Smile”, made its way onto Cold Busted's Bust Free compilation before receiving the full remix treatment from the label's family of beat-smiths in a well-received follow-up release. That just whetted appetites for KMJ's new twelve track album Groovy Jam Shoes, where the party continues on in true, feel-good funk fashion. It features a barrage of big band energy, jam-packed with highlights. Highlights include the limb-liberating cut "Freedom" which layers on rhythmic guitar, wah-wah licks, and screeching organs. A fierce percussive workout, "Rhythm By Rhythm" unleashes rickety, afro-cuban drums, vocal scatting, and chants sure to lift dancers out of their environment and drop them into another land. "Keep The Groove" sees Denitsa's singing at its finest and most commanding while horns, sax, and flairs of a psychedelic guitar riff propel the song forward. Rounding off the album, "You Will Be Done" serves as a more introspective cool down after so much heated funk. This debut full length on Cold Busted -- Groovy Jam Shoes --leaves no doubt that the 'mass' in Koka Mass Jazz is short for massive sound.

Kid Loco - "Great grooves."
Freddy Fresh (Howlin' Records) - "Some very nice tunes … I really like 'Rhythm By Rhythm'."
Mark Farina - "Fun stuff."
All Good Funk Alliance - "'Sofia's Street Lights' is damn hot!"
DJ Wash (Funk the System / Butter Music) - "Awesome release. This is so groovy!"
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) - "Party starters! Yes, I will enjoy playing these."
mister T. (Cold Busted) - "Just heard one of the strongest releases of 2015. Mass congrats to Konstantin and his cats for this super-groovy album."
Inland Knights - "Good stuff as ever."
Mojo Rising (Cold Busted / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - "Live funk at its best! Masters of their craft, Koka Mass Jazz does not disappoint."
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Super cool. Great songs with a very danceable party feeling."
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - "Groovyfunkyjazzy … I love it!"
DJ Doubles (Freestyle Fusion) - "Great work! A fine symbiosis between organic and electronic elements while keeping the groove spot on."
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - "Sweeter than a bowl of ripe cherries … I'm loving the KMJ sound!"
Lemar Soulflower (Soul Deep NYC) - "Reminiscent of some of my favorite 'Acid Jazz' hybrids. Connecting rhythms from throughout the world."

Available now from Beatport, iTunes, and the Cold Busted shop.

Koka Mass Jazz - Smile (Cold Busted)

Koka Mass Jazz is the solo-project-turned-party from Konstantin Katsarski. Katarski is a sound designer, musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and engineer -- he does it all -- based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Konstantin could remain a solo artist, but after creating the concept of Koka Mass Jazz in 2013 a band of musicians quickly became involved. Their sound is that of a drunken funk brigade … fun and full of embellishments. Listeners can expect this talented group's work to cover styles ranging across funky breaks, nu jazz, funk, soul, and even a bit of afro-beat. Much of the music and arrangement of the songs are composed by Katarski while the lyrics are written by Denitsa Georgieva.

Their first single release, "Smile”, made its way onto Cold Busted's Bust Free compilation, also serving as the first single from their forthcoming album Groovy Jam Shoes. The original shines bright enough to get anybody out of their shell -- it's a true, feel good funk party starter. For this follow-up, Cold Busted has pulled from its collective family of producers to provide an eclectic, beat-heavy remix package as only their roster could.

The young, prodigious Belgium-based talent Poldoore twists and squeezes "Smile" out into a model nu-disco affair with cut up vocals for added energy. In the hands of the Green Street the song is somehow made even funkier with extra drum rolls and only the best bass line bits. mister T. steps up to the plate with the release's most club-friendly remix … the Athens transplant gives it some serious Greece with a sleazy electro drum break and lead synth. Diving deep into that Cold Busted downtempo sound the world has come to know and love, Manchester's My Neighbour Is packs things into a condensed form while the Polish producer LoopMaffia extends the original elements out in his subtle, and slightly psychedelic, Moonsoul Dub. To wrap up the single, label boss Vitamin D delivers a more linear Re-Edit alongside an instrumental version of the remix from Green Street.

Kid Loco - "Great original track, and superb remixes."
Fort Knox Five - "Loving the jazzy breakbeats! I'm digging the mister T. remix and the original."
All Good Funk Alliance - "Wow, all these remixes are really dope … nice, jazzy, soul vibes all over the fu--king place."
Shantisan (Salted Soul / One Note Samba) - "It's not easy to select a favorite remix here … a nice bundle from start to finish."
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - "A very good remix package. I like the remixes by My Neighbour is, Vitamin D, and Poldoore."
tOtALcULt (Cult Music / NuFunk) - "Wow, tough job picking a favorite version. The original is super funky, and the remixers all bring something special to the party. Another strong release."
Flashbaxx - "Nice, diverse remixes. I like the Poldoore remix … it reminds me of the good old Thomas Bangalter days."
Lebrosk (Mixmag) - "I'm loving the chilled vibes on the Poldoore remix!"
Neil Bopperson (Wah Wah 45s / Le Mellotron) - "Loopmaffia's Moonsoul Dub is nice."
DJ Chewy (Alphabeatsoup) - "The original version of this is such a good tune … great vocal in particular. The remixes turn it into a banger, especially Poldoore's disco lick and Green Street's more b-boy breaker."
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Great rockin' vocal funk ... yeah. Moving!"
Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe Radio Show) - "Eclectic … full of energy and funk with a gritty bounce."
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - "Each remix has its place during a DJ gig. The originality shines through this release."

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop (Bandcamp).

Ivaylo - Gemini Streamology (Blue Bass Records)

Gemini Streamology is an evocative deep house album from Oslo, Norway based artist Ivaylo and is the latest release from Greece’s Blue Bass Records. Originally from the Black Sea city of Varna in Bulgaria, Ivaylo has been buzzing the global underground for over a decade through his own productions and DJ sets as well as his healthy discography as one half of Lomez & Ivaylo (Barraca Music, Elevation, DeepClass). With Gemini Streamology Ivaylo blends deep, techy atmospheres over warm beats and hypnotic progressions. Cuts like “Metro Ghosts,” “Out Of Orbit,” and “Cantonrini” showcase Ivaylo’s predilection for subtle builds and smooth, tech-house-influenced after hours sounds. Ivaylo is currently on a DJ tour all over Europe and Gemini Streamology looks to further bolster his reputation, placing him among the who’s-who of deep house producers.

Tensnake - “Nice deep house tunes.”
Nick Holder - “Fresh release! ‘Parquing’ and ‘The Fox’ are dope.”
Natural Rhythm - “Lovely deep vibes!”
CJ Mackintosh - “Nice album.”
Hippie Torrales - “Deep, hypnotic grooves.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Delectable deep house with a gorgeous, techy edge. My favorite track is the melodious ‘Cantorini.’”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Warmth abounds on the house jams here, but the dubby slo-mo vibe of ‘Out Of Orbit’ is my pick. Cracking mood-setting material.”
Rick Preston - “‘Pro Ceeds’ and ‘Parquing’ are the ones for me. Great tracks!”
Brandon Bass (Hub City) - “This is really good! Loving the dubby bass lines and chuggy drums. I will definitely be throwing ‘Pro Ceeds’ and ‘Out Of Orbit’ into sets.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Deep and moody vibe. I like the attitude on ‘Cantorini.’”
Craig Stewart (DCSTrax, Montana & Stewart) - “‘Pro Ceeds’ and ‘Metro Ghosts’ are nice.”
Fine Cut Bodies (Chi Recordings) - “Great, groovy house stuff.”
Vincent Inc. (Manuscript Recordings) - “Nice atmosphere on ‘Out Of Orbit.’ Will support.”
QuestionmarQ (Red FM, Ireland) - “Wow, what great music. It’s so hard to pick a favorite as all of these are brilliant and will be played out.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.