Since 2001, Aaron Schultz and Jay Marley have run the Bastard Jazz imprint that first caught our attention when New York’s DJ Center joined the fold. Charlie Bethel, using his Captain Planet guise, first released his 2005 EP, Cookin’ Gumbo, via the label, and has since built up a cult following; 2009′s Speaking Nuyorican and this year’s Ningane EPs swelling his following considerably.

Craving sounds from across the planet, Bethel was fortunate enough to inherit the entire world music library at Lincoln Center’s Public Library, and shared this wealth of new found sounds with a wider audience on a prime time radio show on New York’s WNYU. Cookin’ Gumbo, his first full length project, is brimming with samples culled from this worldwide collection, flipped for the dance floor in his playful, head-snapping style.

House heads will recognise Congolese vocalist Fredy Massamba, known for his collaborative work with Boddhi Satva and Ezel, showing up here on Planet’s most recent single, ‘Ningane’. The beat from his notorious remix of Erykah Badu’s ‘Cleva’ has been recycled for a fresh bossa-nova production, featuring LA’s Brit Laurén on vocals. Her soulful timbre also lights up ‘Burn Baby Burn’, a downtempo electro groove, sweetened with Planet’s jazzy keyboard licks. And ‘Macumba’ is the album’s understated highlight, a breezy Brazilian affair with softly chopped sun-kissed vocals.

Our stateside family can check the project live next month at the following venues:
Thursday 8th September – LA @ Zanzibar
Friday 9th September – NYC @ Southpaw w/ Turntables on the Hudson,
Saturday 10th September – DC @ 18th St Lounge
Friday 16th September – San Francisco @ Afrolicious

Cookin’ Gumbo is served on October 10th, 2011, on double vinyl and CD.