Cotonete

Cotonete sounds like the best possible version of a vintage crate-digging find. Their music is a vibrant, high-fidelity explosion of 1970s jazz-funk, heavily seasoned with Brazilian MPB and samba-rock influences. It is the sound of an eight-piece band in perfect sync, where the brass section hits with surgical precision and the rhythm section maintains a relentless, infectious heat. The textures are consistently warm and analog, dominated by the buttery tones of the Fender Rhodes and shimmering percussion.

What sets them apart is their refusal to treat jazz as a museum piece. While they clearly adore the arrangements of Deodato and the grit of Lalo Schifrin, Cotonete plays with a modern urgency that bridges the gap between classic fusion and the contemporary dancefloor. There is a cinematic quality to their compositions, often feeling like the soundtrack to a stylish European heist film where the sun is always shining and the cars are always convertibles.

Start with the album 'Super-vilains' to experience their peak ensemble energy. It perfectly captures their ability to blend sophisticated harmonic structures with 'sweaty' grooves that appeal to both jazz purists and disco lovers. If you want something slightly more collaborative and dance-leaning, their work with Dimitri from Paris offers a brilliant intersection of live instrumentation and club-ready arrangements.