With their latest release, Italian ensemble Calibro 35 take on “Jazz Carnival,” the iconic Brazilian jazz-funk anthem originally recorded by Azymuth in 1979. Known for their cinematic approach to groove and a sound rooted in vintage funk, Calibro 35 don’t simply cover the track, they rewire it. Their version keeps the pulse and bounce of the original but filters it through a more percussive, psych-tinged lens, nodding to afrobeat and library music without losing sight of its jazz-fusion roots.

The single arrives as part of a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl release, backed with a rework of Piero Umiliani’s “Discomania.” Both tracks will also feature on the group’s upcoming album Exploration, due out on 6 June via Record Kicks, a Milan-based label known for its deep catalogue of global funk and soul.

Rather than dressing “Jazz Carnival” in slick production, Calibro 35 play to their strengths: tight arrangements, raw textures, and a cinematic sense of tension. It’s not a reinvention, but a re-contextualisation, placing a classic in a new frame without draining its colour.

You can stream, listen to, and get a copy of the 7” HERE

You can also pre-order Exploration via Record Kicks’ Bandcamp and reserve a “virtual seat” for the Listening Party on 4 June HERE