Various - Freedom: Quasimode Jazz Collection

Freedom is yet another solid collection of cracking contemporary club jazz, this time selected by Quasimode, a group with a rising reputation. The set does a good job representing the Japanese and European centers of the nu jazz movement, with strong selections from well-respected acts like Two Banks of Four (“Banks Of The Nile”), Jazztronik (“Pathways” presented in a special mix by the awesome Sleepwalker), “Summer Goddess” by Soil and Pimp Sessions, and the mysterious PTH Projects (“Pretend Paradise” featuring ex-London Elektricity vocalist Lianne Carroll).

As for the hosts, Quasimode’s sound is characterized by an emphasis on acoustic instrumentation with a strong sense of swing, as demonstrated on their two contributions, a remix of Markus Enochson’s “Tonight’s The Night” and their original composition “Catch The Fact.” Hard-to-find titles like Toco’s “Guarapiranga” and Sicania Soul’s "Starlite” make this well worth the effort to hunt down.