Hi everyone, and welcome to March 2026’s, The Acoustic Egg Box “Soul, Funk & Jazz Edition”. So much great new MOBO has been (or is soon to be) released this year that I’m going to split the blog into two parts, with a further update in a few weeks. As there is so much fantastic stuff coming out of the UK, this part exclusively features artists from these fair shores. As always, I hope you find something new and interesting to get your ears around. If you do, please feel free to share it, as the brilliant musicians you’re reading about will ALWAYS appreciate it.
Throughout the blog, clicking on any bold underlined text will link to additional music, a video or some additional reading. There’s even a Spotify playlist at the end for you to listen to at your leisure.
Onwards, groovers!
Although it was released exclusively on vinyl in November 2025, London-based Samm Henshaw’s wonderful second album, “It Could Be Worse” (Dorm Seven), didn’t receive a download or streaming release until early 2026. But my word, it was well worth the wait, as it’s already on my shortlist as a potential album of the year. This young man has a warm, effortless vocal style, reminiscent of Marvin at his most yearning; a style well-suited to a record largely contemplating the pain of a recent heartbreak. Check out last year’s single, “Float”and the gorgeous, pleading “Get Back”.
Another record released (just!) in 2025 (Christmas Day in fact) was “Music. Magic. Ironic” (Splash Blue) – the twentieth studio album from soulful jazz-funk legends, Incognito. On this uplifting seventeen-track double-album, Bluey Maunick has once again enlisted some amazing vocal talent, including Maysa Leak, Joy Rose, and Tony Momrelle, among others. Fifteen of the tracks are originals, plus two covers: Roy Ayers’ “Running Away” and Spats’ 1978 disco classic “Your Lovin’ Is Everywhere.” To see Bluey talk about the making of the album, plus snippets of several of the songs and their singers, click here.
In January, we were treated to “Off The Fence” (Easy Eye Sound), the new album from The James Hunter Six. And what a bluesy, soulful, rip-roaring R’n’B belter it is. The venerable Mr. Hunter is in fine voice once again, whether he’s tackling finger snapping Hammond dancers like “Gun Shy” or sharing vocal duties with Van Morrison on “Ain’t That A Trip.” The album’s twelve tracks clock in at just under forty minutes, and I guarantee that by the end of it, you’ll have tappier toes and a big smile on your face.
Talking of Hammond organs, (Chris) Bangs & (Mick) Talbot released their second collaborative effort, “Smokin’ Aces” (Acid Jazz), in January, and there’s plenty of that grooviest of instruments keeping the party swinging throughout the album; not least on the title track and the summery soul-jazz vibe of “Subway Strut.” Both long-standing pioneers and ambassadors of the UK soul, jazz, and mod scenes, it would be easier to list who these legends haven’t worked with rather than who they have, but the world definitely became a far funkier place when they found each other.
Another cracking album was released on the Acid Jazz label in March: Steve White Trio, “The Jazz Sessions Volume 1.” Of course, everyone knows that Steve is the coolest drummer in the world, but just like on the excellent 2019 Hague & White LP, “The Eleventh Hour”, he’s joined once again by two other cool geezers in Chris Hague and Joel White (no relation to Steve, but he is Richard Hawley’s cousin). The album’s twelve instrumental tracks include a great, chilled-out version of The Style Council’s “My Ever Changing Moods”, and my personal favourite, Cough Up – a Hammond-led tune for groovy cool cats everywhere. How about a 2026 acid-jazz-led Mod Revival, Revival? Anyone?
MF Robots released their third album, “III (Part One)” (Good People), in March, and it’s an absolute belter. For those of you new to them, they comprise two former Brand New Heavies members: founder and drummer, Jan Kincaid, plus vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Dawn Joseph. There’s a wonderful summery vibe running through the album’s eight tracks, not least on the gorgeous, uplifting rare-groove feel of “Hello Sunshine.” Although I could have chosen every track, my other big favourite is the Earth, Wind & Fire channelling, “Glide.” Now all we need is a proper scorcher!
Completely out of the blue (as is their wont), the 2020 Acoustic Egg Box Album Of The Year winners, SAULT, released a new album in January. For reasons best known to their mysterious selves, this one, despite being their thirteenth album, is called “Chapter 1” (Forever Living Originals). And no one seems to know why. What we do know is that permanent members, Inflo and Cleo Sol, are joined by regular collaborator Jack Penate, plus contributions from production heavyweights Jam & Lewis and songwriter Dangermouse. For me, despite some indifferent reviews, this is their best album in a while, with the gorgeous Cleo Sol-led “Good Things Will Come After The Pressure “ being a particular highlight. If I have any reservations, it’s certainly not about their music; it’s about whether the whole being-enigmatic-for-enigmatics-sake is starting to wear a bit thin.
Another band to have been crowned The Acoustic Egg Box Album Of The Yearwinners is Mamas Gun. Their exceptional fifth LP, “Cure The Jones” (Candelion), won the coveted title in 2022, and I suspect that their sublime new one, “Dig!” (Candelion), will also be challenging for honours this year. Their frontman and songwriter, Andy Platts (also the main man in Young Gun Silver Fox), is one of the best lyricists and tunesmiths you’ve never heard of. Among others, he’s worked alongside the legends Rod Temperton and John Oates, and their influences can be heard in many of the band’s songs, not least the album’s title track (featuring Brian Jackson), and their current single, “Joy”. Wonderful stuff!
Last but very much not least is an album I’ve been looking forward to since I first heard this young man’s music back in 2023. And the wait was SO worth it! Ladies and gents, please put your hands together for MT Jones’ magnificent debut, “Joy” (EMDM). Mrs Egg Box and I were lucky enough to see him perform at Rough Trade in Bristol last November, and I can confirm that the voice you hear on the record is just as outstanding live. I think fans of the equally talented (and yet another Acoustic Egg Box Album Of The Year Winner!) Jalen Ngonda will find much to love in “Joy”. It’s no coincidence that the pair share musical similarities, though, as MT played in Jalen’s band and has written songs with him; they also studied together at the prestigious Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts. You can read a fine review of “Joy” here, written by Imani Raven for the brilliant Shatter The Standards blog. It will give you a better insight into the man and his music than I ever could. It’s difficult to pick favourite tracks from the album as all eleven are fantastic, but if pushed, “I Don’t Understand” and “Why I Cry” are both as good as it gets.
As ever, if you’ve got this far, thank you so much for reading. All I ask is that you share, talk about, buy the records or gig tickets and do your own bit to help promote these great artists. After all, where would we all be without music?
IAN