Official Release #86. Another in the ongoing series of releases drawn from Frank Zappa's extensive archives of live recordings, Philly '76 contains a concert held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on October 29, 1976. This period in Zappa's career is otherwise documented by the album Zoot Allures, which actually was released on that day, and by Zappa in New York, drawn from shows recorded two months later. But the lineup of Zappa's band is not exactly the same as that on either of those albums. The core unit is identical, with Ray White on rhythm guitar, former Roxy Music member Eddie Jobson on keyboards and violin, Patrick O'Hearn on bass, and Terry Bozzio on drums.

Isotope was formed in 1973 by talented guitarist Gary Boyle and originally featured Jeff Clyne on bass, Brian Miller on keyboards and Nigel Morris on drums. Clyne had previously played with Ian Carr’s Nucleus, while Gary Boyle had played with Stomu Yamashta’s East Wind.

Djabe and Special EFX guitarist Chieli Minucci have been working together since 2023. In 2024, they held a highly successful concert series together, entitled the Tour of Waterfalls. Minucci's playing and musicianship raised Djabe's sound to a new level. Minucci and Special EFX's compositions were given a unique sound by Djabe's musicians. On April 13, 2025, the band recorded a studio album during a break in their 2025 Butterflies tour, entitled Butterflies. In addition to the studio material, the CD also contains 3 concert recordings from the Vienna and Olomouc stops of the Tour of Butterflies.

Monument by Beggar & Co. is a sophisticated blend of British jazz-funk, soul, and R&B that reflects the polished musicianship and groove-oriented sound associated with the early 1980s UK funk scene. Originally released in 1981 and later reissued in 2015 by Funkytowngrooves, the album showcases the band’s seamless combination of tight rhythm sections, rich horn arrangements, smooth vocals, and danceable funk production. Formed by members connected to the influential Light Of The World collective, Beggar & Co. crafted a sound that balanced club-ready energy with soulful melodic sensibilities. Tracks such as “You Need Love,” “Break It Up,” and “Got To Get Away” feature infectious basslines, vibrant brass sections, and polished vocal harmonies that capture the spirit of sophisticated funk and post-disco music from the era. The album also incorporates elements of jazz fusion and Latin-inspired grooves, adding depth and musical variety throughout the record. Monument remains a respected release within the British jazz-funk movement and continues to appeal to collectors and fans of classic soul-driven dance music.

This two-disc set represents almost all of Frank Zappa's concert on January 20, 1976, at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia. The only problem is that there was only one reel-to-reel machine to record the concert, necessitating missing portions of several songs to change tapes; these gaps were replaced by excerpts from a pitch-corrected bootleg from the same tour, with an obvious drop in sound quality but little loss in continuity. This particular band – with tenor saxophonist Napoleon Murphy Brock, bassist Roy Estrada, drummer Terry Bozzio, and keyboardist Andre Lewis (in his only tour with Zappa) – has only been represented sporadically on Zappa's earlier releases. It's a great opportunity to hear songs in early incarnations, such as "Canard Toujours" (which went through a series of revisions before appearing as the lengthy "Let's Move to Cleveland"), the blistering instrumental "Filthy Habits," the hilarious "The Illinois Enema Bandit," and several tracks which first appeared on Zoot Allures in different form ("Zoot Allures," "Black Napkins," "Wind up Workin' in a Gas Station," "Find Her Finer," and "The Torture Never Stops"). One song, "Kaiser Rolls," makes its first appearance with two versions, a concert rendition with a missing portion added and a rehearsal recorded just prior to the tour.

Back To Europe is a 1990 jazz-rock and jazz-funk album by Andrea Marchesini, featuring a blend of groove-driven rhythms, electric instrumentation, and fusion-style improvisation. The record reflects a late 80s/early 90s European jazz-fusion aesthetic, combining tight funk basslines with melodic keyboard work and guitar-driven arrangements. Across its tracks, the album moves between energetic funk sections and more atmospheric jazz passages, showcasing a polished instrumental style rooted in both fusion and contemporary jazz-rock production techniques of the era.

Like the weather itself, this band would assume a new shape with virtually every release - and this album, half recorded in the studio and half live in Tokyo, set the pattern of change. Exit Airto Moreira and Alphonse Mouzon; enter percussionist Dom Um Romao, drummer Eric Gravatt, and a slew of cameo guests like guitarist Ralph Towner, flutist Hubert Laws, and others. The studio tracks are more biting, more ethnically diverse in influence, and more laden with electronic effects and grandiose structural complexities than before. The live material (heard in full on the import Live in Tokyo) is even fiercer and showcases for the first time some of the tremendous drive WR was capable of, though it doesn't give you much of an idea of its stream of consciousness nature.

Mangestu is a genre-blending album that fuses hip hop rhythms with jazz harmonies, funk grooves, and soulful textures, creating a smooth and atmospheric sound that shifts between vocal-driven tracks and instrumental mood pieces with a distinctly early 90s experimental edge.

A much-needed look at an overlooked side of the genius of Quincy Jones – not his jazz work, not his productions for famous soul artists, but instead his huge legacy of soundtrack material – a part of Q's career that really took off in the 60s! By the time he started working in films, Jones had already had a decade under his belt as one of the hippest arrangers, leaders, and composers in jazz – and the film business really respected those talents, and allowed Quincy to bring some really fresh styles into play – modes that really opened up the vibe of American cinema, and also paved the way for the funky styles of the 70s! As that decade approached, Jones left behind the cinema to take on some more higher-profile records of his own – but all the charms of those great albums can be found here at their roots – in this stunning collection of soundtrack material, some of which has never been on CD. The package is way more than just a sampler – and includes an album's worth of material from the films The Pawnbroker, Slender Thread, Mirage, The Deadly Affair, In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, Walk Don't Run, The Italian Job, Lost Man, and John & Mary – plus two versions of the love theme from The Getaway, and a bonus CD with 18 tracks – titled Q's highlights, and featuring tracks from his Mercury records – plus more by Billy Preston, Arthur Prysock, Bill Cosby, Shirley Horn, Letta Mbulu, Toots Thielemans, and others. Even features the "Sanford & Son" and "Ironside" themes!

Modern jazz that flows between groove, ambient and Anatolian sounds. The Turkish pianist presents original compositions that travel between contemporary improvisation and world music.

Davis's second recording since ending his six-year retirement was one of his best of the 1980s. Unlike his bands from the 1970s, this particular unit leaves plenty of space and plays much more melodically. Guitarist Mike Stern lets loose some fury, but electric bassist Marcus Miller is not reluctant to walk now and then in a straight-ahead fashion, drummer Al Foster and percussionist Mino Cinelu are tasteful, and Bill Evans gets in a few good spots on soprano. As for Davis, he was gradually regaining his earlier form. This double LP is highlighted by "Back Seat Betty," a side-long investigation of "My Man's Gone Now" and two versions of Davis's childlike "Jean Pierre."

Stonephace is a genre-blending project that brings together elements of electronic music, rock structures, leftfield experimentation, jazz improvisation, and Latin-infused rhythmic ideas. The album is built around a fluid and atmospheric approach where compositions often shift between structured grooves and abstract sound explorations. Short interludes and transitional pieces act as connectors, giving the record a cinematic flow rather than a traditional linear progression. Longer tracks develop gradually, layering percussion, guitar textures, and electronic processing to create a dense but evolving sonic landscape. The fusion aspect is central to the identity of the release, as musicians from different backgrounds contribute to a unified yet diverse sound palette. The result is an immersive listening experience that balances improvisational freedom with carefully shaped production, offering both complexity and accessibility while maintaining a strong experimental character throughout the entire record.

At 4DaFunk, we strive to bring you the very best sounding versions of unreleased Purple Music.To do that we often release 'Work In Progress' copies to a small group of people to check for any imperfections or areas for improvement.Unfortunately, our recent First Avenue 83 release was such a copy and was not intended as the final version.
Obviously we were disappointed that someone jumped the gun and released it, but we were more disappointed that you as fans didn't get the version we'd spent time honing. This release corrects that.So without further adieu, here's our definitive soundboard version of the legendary 1983 First Avenue performance by Prince And The Revolution.

The backdrop for Evolve was a truck driving across America animated as a giant, elaborate diorama presented by hands animated in the same style. During Wolfman's Brother, the scene became a journey through an MC Escher-esque landscape of surreal "rooms" that ranged from a cozy fireplace to a giant cat peering in through the window, ultimately emerging in Las Vegas.

Ranjha is the new album and collaboration between award-winning composer and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, celebrated composer/musician Shye Ben Tzur, and the Indian ensemble The Rajasthan Express. The upcoming album is a follow-up to their acclaimed debut Junun, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary.