VARIOUS - London Jazz Classics (LP)

A masterful compilation from Soul Jazz Records that captures the essence of the UK's jazz-dance underground as it was taking shape in the early 90s, pulling together rare Brazilian fusion, Latin jazz, and jazz-funk cuts that Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge were spinning in smoke-heavy basement clubs. Alive!'s 'Skindo Le Le' delivers dense percussion and a killer bassline, while Carlos Franzetti's 'Cocoa Funk' layers Fender Rhodes over tight brass, and Emilio Santiago's 'Bananeira' floats on samba swing.