IRMA GROUP RECORDS, ITALY

We have devoted this page to reviews of product from the Irma Group of Companies. I came across this label principally due to the reissue Modern Soul album, reviewed on the Modern Soul Pages. It transpires that there are several labels within the group, and most have something of peripheral interest to us, though most of the content would be regarded as 'off topic'. Nonetheless an interesting label and well worth keeping an eye out for, because it does come up with some gems

Irmagroup Click here to Irma Group site for more information and to order direct

The sub groupings within the label include:

Irma Casa Di Primordine - Modern urban jazz influenced by funk or bossa, rare grooves and nu soul. Looking at the back catalogue for items of interest we find Acid Jazz Classics Volumes 1 to 4, containing items such as Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Ronny Jordan, JTQ. There are some Bossa and Italian albums which may prove worthwhile. There is a Hip Hop and Nu Soul item - Check the Vibe, and Disco Jazz to Jazz House - Cool Fever. Soul Classics may not be everyones idea of Soul Classics and Volume 2 is reviewed in more detal under. There is also Dr Bob Jones presents Funk Connection which Looks good.

Irma La Douce - laid back, cinematic, cocktail action and classic 60's 70's and soundtracks. Not much here looked interesting to me - mostly locally derived stuff within this definition.

Irma Unlimited for house fraternises with jazz or funk in a rhythmically contageous experience

Irma Cafe - Label entirely dedicated to chilled out selections of smooth grooves, downtempo and atmospheric bossa.

Irma Cuandra - breakbeat school to nu jazz - electronica with broken beats. Some interesting jazzy looking beats here, Drum and Bass and breakbeat. Names like Ian Pooley, Carl CraigRoni Size and Bukem.

A number of items to review

Soul Classics Vol 2 - Title tends to suggest 60's soul, so the playlist here is surprising. Very much more today and some barely soul at all (like Feliciano & Blow Monkeys). However there is material on here that makes it well worth acquiring such as the great Modern Soul classic Driza - Real Love. Also includes the excellentMe'shell Ndegeocello and the 1993 'classic' If that's your boyfriend He wasn't last night. Omar's Music is included as well as a couple of Acid Jazz tracks including the fine Mothers Finest I can't believe. Of the unlicensed tracks Michael Allen Deep Inside is worthy of mention

That's Irma Juice- this is a covers collection in electronicahouseacidjazz style. Some of this is OK but it is what it says really. There are tributes to various people like Doors, Streisand, Smiths, Deodato, Lalo Schiffrin all given this kind of treatment. The Tribute to Stevie Wonder is Ribbon in the sky by 2 Men 4 Soul which works because it's not a far from obvious track. Bossa Nostra's Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock) is very jazzy and very fast. Sarah Jane Morris and Ta Ta Ya Baby (Johnny Guitar Watson) does capture the mood of JGW on theis bluesy moody offering. Double Dee and The more I get (Teddy Pendergrass) gets a the soulful jazzy House or Garage treatment and is quite good. Nico's Round Midnight (Ella Fitzgerald) takes a classic into the land of Middle of the Road, a travesty really. Skin 4 - Freeway of love (Aretha Franklin) A beaty uptempo offering. Black & Brown - Blue Train (John Coltrane) kind of orientalises Coltrane - certainly a better workout that the Fitzgerald item. Some of this album works really well, some doesn't.

Ohm Guru - Echo - on Cuandra. Whilst I understand that this is one of the labels big selling artists this is of little relevance to these pages. Mundane, laid back, and better confined to a lift. One or two of the vocal tracks are OK, especially the Nicky ones.

Mo'Plen 4000 - Glamorous boogie grooves for a fashion lifestyle - Most of this seems to be from the 70's, mostly Italian or Latin or Bossa derivatives. Some of it I quite liked, for example, the jazzy latin beats of Cocco Secco by Paolo Ormi. In fact most of the Paolo Ormi material on here is quite good - bit Mongo Santamaria. I tended not to like the out and out show covers like Superstar, Calcutta and Aquarius as being obvious and of no consequence. Interesting Stevie Wonder item crops up in the form of Passo Le Mie Notti Qui Da Solo (reminding me of an Italian Stevie single version of Yesterme that I have been known to play out!)

Morning Side of Love - A collection of Chill out grooves from the past - Interesting and by and large good double set. The vogue today for 'Chill out' and there is a plethora of such compilations all over the place, being downbeat mellowy housey electronica material. This album puts together what would have been played in within htis definition, when it didn't exist. Some very fine stuff indeed is included here- it's mostly70's downbeat jazz, with the odd 60's and some later cuts as well. The fine and wonderful Don Ellis Parting kicks off, and we have many from the jazz funk era like Herbie Mann, Donald Byrd (the magnificent Wind Parade), Gato Barbieri, Ramsey Lewis, Pat Metheny. An oddball item but it works rather well is Love Unlimited Orchestra and Midnight Groove. Vocally one of the best is Minnie Ripperton and Les Fleurs. The title track by Chico Hamilton from Blue Note is excellent too. Also includes Summer Breeze by the Isleys. Nice mellow jazz for a cool summer evening.

Lorraine Bowen - Songs from the living room - Not sure where this is coming from and not sure that I want to - only included to cover the items received - Julie Christie makes me feel misty! Indeed.

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