Welcome to EGEA UK: Alternative Music Shop, we are a music shop based in North London specialising in world, folk and international jazz music on CD as well as books and DVD's. Alternative Music Shop is the retail branch of the
Anglo-Italian distribution company and record label
EGEA. We are part of the EGEA: Alternative Music
Distribution company within the UK and carry all our
distributed labels within our shop. These include the
entire catalogues of Dreyfus, Enja, and Connecting
Cultures amongst many more, and our proud to be the
official European Smithsonian Folkways shop, being the
only outlet within Europe to carry its entire back
catalogue.
In addition to our distributed labels,
Alternative Music Shop carries a range of additional
world, jazz and folk labels unlike any other music
shop in London. As a shop we have an intimate
atmosphere, where customers can browse and listen to
recommendations in a laid back and comfortable
environment of fellow knowledgable music enthusiasts.
We also host in-store events to showcase our
artists and labels in many ways.
Our preferred mail order method is through Amazon UK, and our contact and location details can be found below.
Alternative Music Shop current new releases
Various ArtistsIf You Ain't Got The Do Re Mi
[Smithsonian Folkways]
This compilation from the Smithsonian Folkways archive marks the opening of the Museum of American Finance on New York City's Wall Street, and lets the voices of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lead Belly, and other folk music legends ring out their stories of rags and riches.
24-page booklet, 74 minutes
Marcus MillerFree
Dreyfus Records
The brilliant new album from bassist, composer,producer, and band leader Marcus Miller.
Blessed with one of the most recognisable and influential sounds in jazz, Miller also leads one of the tightest, funkiest bands in contemporary jazz and his new album Free, is one of his leanest, meanest and funkiest in years.
Largely based around the grooves created by Marcus and his drummer 'Poogie Bell' the album features guest spots from harmonica player Gregoire Maret, trumpeter Patches Stewart, altoist David Sanborn, acoustic guitarist Paul Jackson Jnr and and soul sensation Corinne Bailey Rae crops up on the title track.
More new and recommended releases
To receive regular updates of new releases and events at our shop please:
Email Alternative Music Shop
Deirdre Cartwright GroupTune Up, Turn On, Stretch Out
[Blow the Fuse]
Recorded at the Vortex with bassist Alison Rayner and drummer Buster Birch, plus vocalist Sarah P, Deidre Cartwright's live album takes in material from the whole of the guitarist's career:
from 1994's Debut (the opening 'Slippers 15s 8d, 'Spartia' and the hypnotic closer 'Grand Loup');
one track (the Nirvana-influenced 'Smells Like Jazz') from 2002's Precious Things; four cuts (Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights', the intoned poem 'Dust', Rayner's 'String Theory' and the gently insinuating New Age rap 'Walk the Circle') from 2004's Dr Quantum Leaps; plus 'In the Bag', an intriguing poem powerfully delivered by Sarah P about a life deciphered from the contents of a carpet bag.
Cartwright is deservedly celebrated for her unfussy eclecticism (she is as adept at the funky shuffle somewhat reminiscent of Grant Green as harder-edged, multi-textured playing, and her compositions draw on everything from 1970s fusion to grunge music and the straightahead jazz of the likes of George Benson and Wes Montgomery), but it is the unpretentious zestfulness of her approach, her clear enjoyment of the sheer variety of sounds her guitar can be made to produce,
that is so infectious and which makes her playing so listenable.
