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Since I live under a rock (called America) I popped the first CD off this double disc collection in expecting, well, quite honestly, another boring DJ mix of progressive or house or something else that is all beginning to sound the same quite honestly. I didn't even bother to read the press release or the cover. So when the jazzy live jam of the Heritage Orchestra swelled to fill my living room, I had to double check and make sure I'd put the right disk in. Yep, CD1 of Gilles Peterson Presents the BBC Sessions. On closer inspection, the front of the CD proclaimed "exclusive recordings from Beck, Bjork, Common, Jamie Cullum, Roots Manuva, N.E.R.D, The Roots, Zero 7 and many more." Well all right! Turns out Peterson's worldwide radio show has been airing for more than 5 years, and this is a collection of some very exclusive live recordings from said show. Now, its not all to my taste, but it is all incredible. The CDs now have a permanent residency in my car as a viable alternative to when my favorite local public radio station KCRW is the smoothness of Beth Gibbons, the 60s film-style bizarreness of Matthew Herbert, and then maybe a little Fat Freddy Drop for good measure. And that's before I even delve into CD 2. If you are looking to expand your musical horizons past 4 on the floor, with an expert captain at the helm, hand the wheel over to Gilles Peterson and put your feet up for the ride.-- review by Jennifer Warner
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