Tag: jazz

Kiefer – When There’s Love Around (2021 Stones Throw)

Reviews

Artist: Kiefer

Album: When There’s Love Around (2021)

Label: Stones Throw

Genre: Nu Jazz / Downtempo

Record Store: Zia Records, Phoenix, Arizona

Spotify
Tidal
Apple Music
Bandcamp

Blame it on the algorithm, but when I switched over from Apple Music to Tidal a few months ago, I couldn’t listen to an album or playlist of anything remotely downtempo without being recommended Kiefer, the soulful hip-hop influenced pianist and producer. A cursory glance at his credits reveals piano work on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, as well as producer or songwriter credits for another dozen or so artists.

It’s easy to see why this young man’s popularity has blossomed as of late; judging by his recent  long player ‘When There’s Love Around’, Kiefer’s vibrant style of downtempo jazz is eminently listenable and chill without devolving completely into uber-smooth cocktail jazz (although I’d probably still be a fan of that). A few synths pepper the landscape, either as melody instruments like on ‘crybaby’, or as mood-setting soundscapes like on ‘loving hands.’ 

The whole album plays like a greatest hits of town and village theme songs from a lost ‘Final Fantasy’ game circa the PS2 era. There’s just something about the twinkling piano melodies, downtempo grooves, and melodic phrasing that brings to mind the shores of Besaid Island. I can practically hear the menu screen click sound effects in the background.

In an eerie case of foreshadowing, ‘When There’s Love Around’ comes pressed in a vibrant blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Its release predated the current conflict by many months. 

Thomas Jacob Jr is a Producer, Composer, Singer-Songwriter, Music Educator and Digital Artist currently based in Arizona – Bringing us rare and interesting selections from his extensive Vinyl collection! For more content follow his vinyl-dedicated Instagram account

Blue Lab Beats – Motherland Journey (2022 Blue Note Records)

Reviews

Artist: Blue Lab Beats

Album: Motherland Journey (2022)

Label: Blue Note Records

Genre: Neo-Soul / Jazztronica

Spotify
Tidal
Apple Music
Bandcamp

Over the last several weeks I have been teaching my junior high school music students about the cross pollination between the jazz and hip-hop music genres in modern music. There is no better contemporary example of this than with Blue Lab Beats’ masterful debut long-player for Blue Note Records, Motherland Journey.

Much like the title suggests, MJ encompasses a kaleidoscope of influences and sounds while still retaining a distinct identity. They fuse the sounds of the African diaspora with modern instruments and rhythms from the London underground music scene, resulting in a melange of jazztronica, afrobeat, neo-soul, funk, and fusion. Guest stars abound, adding contemporary pop, r&b, and hip-hop flair to the smooth fusion instrumentals laid down by producer NK-OK and multi-instrumentalist Mr. DM.

At 17 tracks and an hour’s worth of listening time, one would thing that Motherland Journey might strain to maintain a sense of cohesion and unity with all the genre-skipping, but the opposite is in fact true, as MJ instead plays like an expertly-curated celebration of the London underground electronic music scene.

Thomas Jacob Jr is a Producer, Composer, Singer-Songwriter, Music Educator and Digital Artist currently based in Arizona – Bringing us rare and interesting selections from his extensive Vinyl collection! For more content follow his vinyl-dedicated Instagram account

Waste, by The Space Boat House Band

Quick Picks

Sometimes, you just want to kick back and listen to some musicians jam.

One night I found myself in this mood, and discovered The Space Boat House Band. They were a Jazz-Fusion outfit from Minneapolis, Minnesota with a gift for modest experimentation and chill jam sessions.

Of all these sessions, projects and sonic-doodles, I landed knee-deep in Waste – a 5 track project from the group, resulting in a meandering and satisfying experience.

I felt as if I was sitting in a basement with old friends as they plucked, pounded and noodled away on a collection of instruments, floating along wherever the energy of the atmosphere took them…

The group do a nice job of grafting together sloppy jazz improvisations with borderline industrial sound experiments.

Tracks like Landfill serve to be almost entirely atmospheric – with an emphasis on deconstruction and sparse use of found sounds. By contrast, the two FNW tracks are considerably more tight and focused. Waste I perfectly balances the two sides of the coin – with sounds evolving across an impressive diversity of musical ideas and formidable guitar effects.

Waste is a lovely little listening experience that will likely put a smile on your face. I know personally it conjured up some nostalgic feelings for me – a sound soaked in both innocence and purpose….

Unfortunately, between the time I discovered Waste and the writing of this article, The Space Boat House Band are broken up. I look forward to hearing what the members will do moving forward, and wish them all the best!

You can stream and download the album now via the groups Bandcamp page.

Tunnel Speeches – Self Titled

Quick Picks

Intriguing electro-acoustic experiments from avant-garde outfit Tunnel Speeches.

This debut collaboration is a very interesting listen – weaving it’s way between lofi beats, plunderphonic ambience and post-rock.

The interaction between Drums and Guitar are molded together with the help of strangely satisfying samples and atmospherics. Dissonant at times, in the best way possible.

Gritty choppy percussion sits as the foundation for these tracks – stretched over 11 improvisational jams – Tunnel Speeches are not shy with mixing styles together with quite a pleasing outcome. Avant jazz collides with dark ambient and lo-fi hip hop.

Overall it’s a great listen that’s had me coming back again and again – lucky for us it’s available on Cassette tape for now! Snag it or the digital version from the official Bandcamp page today.

Boi Borzoi – Self Titled

Reviews

Beautiful experimental electronics from Finnish producer Boi Borzoi. Utilizing a unique multi-genre approach, Boi Borzoi manages to fuse together concepts from Modern Classical, Jazz and Post-Rock into something that is both familiar yet entirely fresh.

Continue reading “Boi Borzoi – Self Titled” →

Straight to Tape by Pan Amsterdam

Reviews

I don’t know who this Pan Amsterdam fella is but golly gee his music is brilliant. Maybe not the Daniel Johnston of hip hop but most certainly the Jad Fair. He’s going “Straight to Tape” and straight to the top of the charts and our hearts. His latest EP is another look inside the mind of a bonafide weirdo philosopher. His music is avant-garde in the least pretentious way. If Busdriver makes you think you should read more, then Pan Amsterdam makes you think you should’ve rented more movies at Blockbuster when you had the chance. His comedic timing is nothing short of golden. “You’re the wolf of Walmart, sell me this pen.” Pan (can I call him Pan?) is a savant of bogus poetry. A beautiful genius at that. “More kosher than gefilte fish.” Picking up where Das Racist left off, Pan Amsterdam has filled the void for stream of consciousness free jazz rap. “Straight to Tape” has been playing on repeat and I’m just now seeing that it’s only 12 minutes. Re-playability is hard to do in the land of drive thru’s and infinite possibilities. Pan Amsterdam creates a world you can get lost in. Not some fantasy planet either, this world’s like yours just slightly different. Instead of 2001: A Space Odyssey, you’re really into Mars Attacks. You listen to Beck’s anti folk albums instead of Radiohead demos. Whatever mad scientist laboratory accidentally birthed this album should win the Oscar.

Listen/download over on Pan Amsterdam’s Bandcamp:

http://panamsterdam.bandcamp.com/album/straight-to-tape

Too Busy, by LBT

Quick Picks

a1651689553_10

Jazz/HipHop collective LBT (Live Beat Tapes) blesses us with an amazing new 5-track project “Too Busy”. Impressively diverse jazzhop with lots of emotion and musicality. Featuring a rotation of vocalist, giving the instrumentals a healthy variety and room to explore sonic possibilities. Next Lifetime has become an instant favorite of mine, big badbadnotgood vibes on this one. Hope this one gets a physical release sometime in the future, but for now enjoy the digital edition via bandcamp…

Night Eyes, by TVVIN_PINEZ_M4LL & ΔCID.rar

Quick Picks

a1293630934_10

Hairs aBlazin’ Label brings us this lovely split-cassette project featuring TVVIN_PINEZ_M4LL & Δcid.rar . The vaporwave project has a loose concept to it, characterized by the eyes watching us from inside the album. The watchman has become lustful, and this is the soundtrack inside his thoughts… The music evokes thick feelings of nostalgia, longing, regret and hope.

Digital download is available via bandcamp as well as a Cassette available, edition of 24, so get em while you can! They look gorgeous with the red tape housed in a black case, and the artwork lending a VHS Tape vibe, digging it for sure and hopefully I can pick up a copy before they are all gone…

0016511201_10

Toward the Unknown, by Project Parallels

Reviews

“Toward the Unknown” is the debut 4-track project from Boston-Massachusetts duo Project Parallels, consisting of producer/multi-instrumentalist Jesse Ciarmataro and Saxophonist/composer John Aruda. The record is available now courtesy of Simple Truth records.

Dropping back in January, yet only appearing on my radar in the past week, this one has become a go-to jam with its infectious grooves and addicting progressions. The title track warms up the listener with a healthy rhythm and friendly vibes. Things really pick up in “Waltz for Beverly”, especially around the halfway mark, where urgent saxes encourage a beautiful flute solo.

Definite favorite of mine is “The Region and The Riot”, a track I originally discovered while poking around SoundCloud – it’s a quintessential trip-hop track with all the perfect ingredients. A blissful chord progression, with rich chillhop anime vibes, accompanied by beautiful horns and OH THE DRUMS! The percussion on this track is so addicting, it makes me click repeat as soon as the song is over…

Really looking forward to more sounds from this duo – if this project is any indication, they have a lot of fantastic ideas that I would love to see developed into a full-length project. You can download the album now via bandcamp and streaming on most platforms.

Locations: France, by The Jazz Jousters

Quick Picks

The “Locations” series from Millennium Jazz Music never seems to fall short of amazing, this one seems extra delicious…..