I can feel jazz creepin up on the electro scene this coming year. I thought it was going to be rap, but a lot more jazz brass has been popping up. And if I have to wait any longer for hip hop’s revival, I don’t mind so much if it’s with jazz.
Space Captain’s ‘Easier’ features vocals by Maralisa and I don’t know who compliments whom better. Space Captain puts on a fine jazzy beat, but these vocals really capture the feeling. I guess what will tell is who can reinterpret their own sound and make it something more beautiful next time. Could happen together again, but it’s much harder the second time.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/117043290" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
The melody isn’t half bad, the wobbles work well and the girl is good for a few cuts in, but that sax is what carries this tune. My obsession with the saxiness has gone back to one of our very first posts (3 minutes in, woof) and far before that. It’s the only instrument that can consistently replace the vocals as the backbone of a piece. And in ‘Jubel,’ the sax is its stature.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/83539885" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Just another one of those ponder your life type nights and what tune to top it off. Toro y Moi’s other project, Les Sins, has one smooth little shit of a song, ‘Grind,’ which turns especially smooth when the vocals kick in.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/82263352" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
‘Ninties Man’ starts off as a sombre jazztronic track to tune out to, but intensifies at just the right moment (wait for the drop it) to turn into one growing acid [jazz] trip. It’s one experimental ride, so don’t cling to it too tight… then again so is most of this site.
I’ve known Wick-it for making some superb mashups & bass’d out remixes, but creating shit from scratch is a whole new ball game. I’ve seen many cross the line from mashups to originals and it’s not usually pretty. But the Instigator puts down one pretty piece this time.
‘Grey Sky’ over takes Wick-it’s Weathermaker EP with a whole new level of strange bass. The jazz influenced, soul samples combined with that abstract bass is more than enough to praise, but slap down Heather Jones on the mic and her hymns bring this beyond praise.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45078007" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Found this on Snoop Dogg’s SoundCloud and loved every minute of it. I had no idea who it was at the time, Snoop like too many other SoundClouders didn’t put up the info, but I finally dug it up. What a smooth jazzy, downtempo piece that’s perfect for a good morning sesh. Best way to start your day!
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/40508094" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
David & Dave’s “Bliss,” kinda makes me sad, ironically, but in a good way – one that lets you step back and appreciate the wonder in the ethereal.
Glad we got a sax in here ’cause otherwise I don’t know where I’d classify this, Jazz is still quite iffy. But I’d love to see more like it, it’s the only way we’ll keep modern music classy.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32726432" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Wait until the vocals kick in and damn does it hit Sogood! Most wouldn’t think you could pull off a smooth jazz rendition of Metallica’s “Enter the Sandman,” but Andy Rehfeldt sure the hell did. Plus, the video on top makes it all the more clever.
I wonder if Lars Ulrich is trying to get his “fair cut” off this…
[audio:Sandman-Jazz.mp3|titles=Enter Sandman (Smooth Jazz Version)]
I was looking at my ‘tracks to post’ when I ran across Mos Def & Talib Kweli. For a second I was confused on why they were there, I haven’t heard anything new from the two in a while and didn’t think anything recently emerged. Then I saw who produced the tracks, DJ Deckstream, and realized why I need to post these up.
Deckstream is one of my favorite nu jazz producers from Japan. He’s got a shit load of good tunes to chill to, but up until recently lacked good rap support. In Deckstream Soundtrack 2.0, the producer steps up his rap game featuring some talented rhymers, including Mos Def on the original “Life is Good”. But on the two remixed versions that dropped last year, Mos Def gets some support by the other half of Black Star […]
[audio:Life-Is-Good-Remix.mp3,Life-Is-Good-Remix-2.mp3|titles=Life Is Good Remix, Life Is Good Remix Part 2]
There’s nothing better than a sax leading a classic De La Soul number. Mix it with Stevie’s “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” & a little Beastie Boys and this is mashup perfection for that funkified crowd. Learn it, love it, get more of it.
Also, if ya know of anything else sampled here hit it up in the comments below. And for some reason that “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” beat reminds me of a Beatle’s song. hmm…
[audio:Paid-In-Full.mp3|titles=Paid in Full]