EventsOrganic Warfare | Phronesis
Organic Warfare is a diverse and vibrant modern/progressive jazz album. The album is a journey itself, but never diverges too far into unfamiliar territory. There is an ample selection of moods and tempos, but not delivered all at once. Every track leaves you wanting more as if it were just an appetizer and you just ordered the house sampler. This is an amazing debut for Phronesis and I can’t wait to see how they’ll continue to push the envelope in progressive jazz.
Miles’ First Great Quintet
Miles’ first great quintet released six albums together, and four of these were all recorded during the same two marathon sessions in 1956. And there were no second takes. This is raw 50’s post-Bird jazz at its best.
Mood | Robert Glasper Trio
The album as a whole is very strong with a variety of jazz sub-genres. Some tracks stick to just the piano / bass / drum trio, while others incorporate horns for more of a be-bop feel. Sometimes he throws in a sax and jazz guitar for more of a jazz-fusion feel. Every now and then there is even a hint of hip hop in the rhythm, which makes sense as he has collaborated with several hip hop artists (e.g. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common)
Top 10 Albums of 2008
New Year’s is quickly approaching and it’s about that time to pick our Top 10 albums of 2008. That’s right, we managed to agree on the same 10 albums without firing someone… out of canon… into the Sun.
New Mos Def Jazz Track
Check out the new Mos Def track with Charlie Hunter Quartet entitled Creole (thx Rucha)
Amino Alkaline | Mos Def
Last weekend on September 21st, 2008, I got the distinct pleasure along with Dan to see the most amazing and versatile hip hop artist perform on stage. And not only did he lead the show with his vocals and emcee skills, he also orchestrated a 25 piece orchestra with full string and horn sections. Maybe he didn’t do that actual orchestrating (props to Robert Glasper), but he damn well led them in front of a sold out Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. I love this man!
Street Signs | Ozomatli
Using over three languages to compose their verses and stanzas, Ozomatli sounds like an international band and rap group. But they are actually from our good ol’ state of California. The 10-piece band, composed of multi ethnic members, use their family cultures and languages to compose their music. Ozomatli to me is the best collaboration of rock, hip hop, jazz, funk, and salsa that I’ve ever heard in my life. And I’m generally not a fan when an artist even tries to mix 2 genres. If only latin influenced music sounded more like Ozomatli instead of reggaeton, how different would the world be?!?
Video Interview | Avishai Cohen
What better way to celebrate our 100th post?! I had the pleasure of seeing Avishai Cohen live at his first of 8 performances at the Blue Note in NYC this past labor day weekend, and to top it off, Nirav managed to secure some time to interview him.
Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker is the original true virtuoso on the sax, and the measuring stick for every horn player since. He almost single-handedly altered the direction of Jazz, and also gave Miles Davis his big break by taking him on as a protégé.
Boney James
If his music played in elevators, I might actually go out and get myself a job. Boney James has made jazz and the saxophone totally cool again. It’s soothing, its hip, and I’m sure it can help get the girls!
