The Story So Far…

Welcome to Brownswood Recordings, the London-based indie label from globetrotting purveyor of all sounds soulful and inspired, Gilles Peterson. We opened our doors in 2006 with the simple aim of releasing good new music, music with soul – no matter where it’s from or what the style.

And what a journey it’s been since then. Gilles is still flying around, dropping unexpected dancefloor gems on party people around the world. And his Worldwide show on BBC Radio 1 is still a weekly staple for music heads tuning in for anything from vintage folk to dubstep. Meanwhile, Brownswood has released a steady stream of new music.

A series of brilliant snapshots in sound is one way to give a flavour: Gilles chancing upon the beauty of Elan Mehler’s piano composition in the foyer of an elegant Swiss hotel; Gilles first hearing a Ben Westbeech demo – Bristol beat-head with the voice of an angel and an ear for a heart-catching tune – on his car stereo outside a club at 4am. And then pretty promptly signing him. Our satisfaction at getting all 44 members of The Heritage Orchestra on to the stage, and no one falling off, at the Cargo album launch. Dancing round the office when the Osunlade mixes of Ben Westbeech’s ‘So Good Today’ first came in. Watching the Japanese jazz punks SOIL&“PIMP” SESSIONS take their first Glastonbury in their stride and draw a huge crowd to the Jazz Stage for a Death-Jazz-in-the-mud extravaganza. To be honest, seeing SOIL&“PIMP” SESSIONS play anything, anywhere has been unforgettable. The whole Brownswood Family decamping to Sête in the South of France for the Worldwide Festival each summer. Watching José James deliver his version of Coltrane’s ‘Equinox’ with the glittering sea behind, as the sun set over the open air ampitheatre. Picking out the freshest of new tunes with which to bless the Bubblers compilation series. Crossing Europe with our 2007 Brownswood Loves Jazz tour. Starting up a regular monthly Brownswood night at Nublu in New York City…

It’s all go. It’s all been great fun, and there’s more to come!

2009 has so far seen the release of Elan Mehler’s awesome sophomore LP – ‘The After Suite’ – featuring the vocal talents of Adam McBride-Smith and Becca Stevens. Watch out for a new, keenly anticipated album from Elan and Adam in 2010 under the moniker Half Seas Over. Veteran Brit beat technician Dobie dropped a strictly limited 12″ EP; the fourth chapter in the Brownswood Bubblers compilation series highlighted more under-the-radar nuggets from the likes of New Look, Lone, Oumou Sangare and Soundspecies. Bubblers Five is already in the works and is slated for a Spring 2010 release.

This October will also finally see the release of our Havana Cultura project in collaboration with Havana Club rum.

Twenty Ten is indeed looking like a busy one for us here at Brownswood. The mighty José James is set to drop the follow-up to 2008′s ‘The Dreamer’ entitled ‘BLACKMAGIC’. Featuring production from LA’s flip flop posterboy Flying Lotus, the LP is firmly anchored in hip hop’s boom-clap foundation and José is perfectly at ease riding FlyLo’s bumpy sketches, just as he is contributing good-time vibes to DJ Mitsu’s sunshine soundtrack ‘PROMISE IN LOVE’, blessing Moodyman’s retro jazz-funk groove ‘DETROIT LOVELETTER’, or indeed morphing Benga’s dubstep anthem ‘Emotions’ into a killer live jazz workout. A bumper ‘BLACKMAGIC’ remix package featuring Joy Orbison, Untold, Izmabad and dOP precedes the album in October ’09.