“Virgo Baby” is the 1st offering from LA funkster, Diamond Ortiz’s forthcoming LP, Certified. Diamond Ortiz returns with his signature blend of retro & future funk which emanates from his deep musical roots ranging from 50’s era R&B to lover’s rock reggae to unapologetic g-funk. “Virgo Baby” is the perfect introduction to Certified and it [...]
By David Ma and Brandon Roos Vocalist: Durand Jones Vocalist / Drummer: Aaron Frazer Guitarist: Blake Rhein The origin story for modern soul heavyweights Durand Jones and the Indications emerged out of what can be considered divine timing. Vocalist Durand Jones is now best known for his gruff delivery and hair-raising yelps, but he arrived [...]
Kamaal Williams – The Return Black Focus Records - 2019 While The Return may be a debut of sorts, it certainly makes reference to the sound it’s following. In November 2016, pianist and producer Kamaal Williams, an alias for Henry Wu, paired up with the vastly talented drummer Yussef Dayes as Yussef Kamaal. Their debut, [...]
People Under the Stairs - Sincerely, the P Piecelock 70 - 2019 In a genre that’s less than fifty years old, the idea of legacy is tenuous. Rap’s fetishization of youth culture and the countless examples of rappers ungracefully aging creates an environment where multi-decade careers are exceedingly rare. In this way, Thes One and [...]
Keith Jarrett Belonging (1974, ECM) Recorded 4/24-25, 1974 in Oslo, Norway Eyes of the Heart (1979, ECM) Recorded 5/1976 in Bregenz, Austria You’d be hard pressed to find a harder working jazz artist in the 1970s than Keith Jarrett. Whether it was his solo piano albums or endeavors into the classical world – not [...]
A bit all over the map here and in no particular order, these were my favorite albums released in 2018. I emphasize albums because these were solid listens as full LPs and not just a dope joint here and there. As in I dig some of Cardi’s jams, but her full length was extra meh [...]
Ezra Collective – Juan Pablo: The Philospher Released: October 6, 2017 At this year’s Winter Jazz Fest in New York City, Ezra Collective closed out a BBC Music Introducing showcase at (Le) Poisson Rouge with stunning energy, saving an evening that never quite caught fire until the quintet set the stage ablaze. In [...]
Tony Palkovic – Deep Water Originally released 1980 via Deep Water Records; Re-issued digitally 12/21/2018 via Numero Group Guitarist Tony Palkovic’s Deep Water, initially released in 1980 on Cleveland imprint Deep Water Records, is a dash of Non-Fiction era Steve Kuhn, a nod to the guitar-synth excursions of early Pat Metheny Group, and a few [...]
B. LEWIS – San Jose, CA. Producer - Singer - Songwriter - Bass - Guitars - Keys – Percussion - Samplers B. Lewis – San Jose, CA Producer - Singer - Songwriter - Bass - Guitars - Keys – Percussion - Samplers An alum of Ex’Pression College of Digital Arts, Brad Lewis [...]
In Heavy Rotation – Needle to the Groove’s 2018 Top Spins It’s that time of year where we tell you what was In Heavy Rotation in 2018. We had the whole crew give their top 5 spins on the year. Basura “Qualm” - Helena Hauff “NTS Sessions” - Autechre “Auto-Da-Fé” - SPK “Vengeance Factory [...]
