Remembering composer/pianist Stanley Cowell on his birthday

Raising a glass to Strata-East co-founder Stanley Cowell with two interviews, performances with Charles Tolliver and two gems.

Happy Birthday Charles Tolliver!

Raising a glass to trumpet titan Charles Tolliver – co-founder of Strata-East – with a few performances & interviews.

Bajka's new single "The World" out Sept 9

Bajka reunites with Das Goldenes Zeitalter collaborator Max Weissenfeldt for her new Philophon seven-inch.

Bajka and Max Weissenfeldt (Poets Of Rhythm, Whitefield Brothers) first met each other when they both attended the same school in Munich, Germany. Their first recordings - under the name Das Goldenes Zeitalter - took place in 1998 and were subsequently released as a three-track 12" EP by Jazzman Records in 2006. Fans of 70s vintage Strata-East and Black Jazz recordings should check out Bajka's amazing performance on the epic "A Vision" from the EP which appears at the end of this post.  


Now, Bajka has found her way back to her musical family via the Philophon label, joining a growing roster of talented artists including The Polyversal Souls, Roy X, Guy One, Alogte Oho Jonas, Hailu Mergia, Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids, Jimi Tenor and Y-Bayani.

"The World" is driven by the heavyweight drumming of Max, counterpointed by the iridescent voice of Bajka. She reflects the glory of our world by showing the listener through her talent that she in person is for sure part of that glory. On the flip side, "Invisible Joy", Bajka gives her own interpretation of Philophon's own label anthem, which was previously the title track of The Polyversal Souls' celebrated debut album. Listen to Bajka's recording of "The World" below.

Happy Birthday J. Plunky Branch

Before Plunky's Oneness of JuJu, there was simply JuJu who recorded two amazing Strata-East albums.