Our summer playlist sorts all the nice “Beats & Grooves” of 2019, that have already been heard here over the past six months! It is contemporary, easy stuff, chosen from this year’s global music production and it will definitely contribute to a enjoyable holiday mood, neither getting us tired, nor resorting to boring commercial commonplace.
Tasty motifs, smart basslines, jazz hip-hop and broken beat, discreet “new jazz” harmonies, neo-soul and art-pop from cute voices, smooth jazz and contemporary r&b/soul/funk with short, stylish soli, atmospheric fusion and electronic, all matched together, in a nearly three-hour program! Just grab your opportunity!
The playlist is available on music streaming services
and
All the albums seen here, have already been presented in our 2019 monthly playlists
J.Lamotta – Suzume
Label: Jakarta
Country: Berlin, DE
Genre: neo-soul
Reviews: Earmilk, Interview
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Sophisticated neo-soul, created by vocalist/producer J.Lamotta and her sizable band including strings and wind instruments
Swindle – No More Normal
Label: Brownswood Recordings
Country: London, UK
Genre: Jazz, hip-hop, dance, electronic
Reviews: Allmusic, Metacritic
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
A quality production with many guests, highlighting the wide range of London’ s scene styles, by Cameron Palmer (aka Swindle)
Kaho Nakamura – Ainou
Label: Space Shower Music
Country: Kyoto, Japan
Genre: Art pop
Review: Tokyophonic
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Inventive pop with modern aesthetics and Kaho Nakamura‘s fascinating voice
Sofia Rubina – Where It Begins
Label: Dreams of Tomorrow Production
Country: Boston, USA
Genre: Contemporary r&b/soul/jazz
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
A multi-featured band for Sofia Rubina’s touching voice
Adi Becker – Babbelou
Label: Mons Records
Country: Köln, DE
Genre: Contemporary Jazz, funk, latin, big band
Review: Press release
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Jazz entertainment by trombonist/composer/arranger Adi Becker and the Köln Grand Central Orchestra, featuring Eric Marienthal (sax), George Whitty (keys), Jemma Endersby (voc)
Ariana Grande – thank u, next
Label: Republic Records
Country: USA
Genre: Pop, R&b
Review:
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube (7 rings, with lyrics)
As we can read in her bio, actor and pop star Ariana Grande had served in the musical theater. She had even sung jazz to the famous club Birdland, so it is no wonder that her new hit “7 rings” (500M views so far) is based on our well-known and beloved “My Favorite things”
Snarky Puppy – Immigrance
Label: GroundUP
Countries: USA, UK
Genre: Modern funk, fusion
Review: Allmusic
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
A new album from the popular band that upsets the crowds and therefore we can not ignore it!
Kenneth Gill – The Good News
Label: Indie
Country: Detroit, USA
Genre: Smooth jazz, soul, funk
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Trombonist Kenneth Gill’s super band is “Swingin’ hard, Funkin’ hard, Groovin’ hard”!
Dr. Dundiff – The Distance
Label: Cold Busted
Country: Louisville, Kentucky
Genre: New jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp Youtube (What you want)
Producer Dr. Dundiff, on the road set by Robert Glasper
Hip Sista – Meets Horace Silver
Label: Club del Disco
Country: Argentina
Genre: Vocal jazz
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube (Strollin’)
Hip Sista is a buoyant, impeccable and pretty accompanied vocal group
Tank and The Bangas – Green Balloon
Label: Verve
Country: USA
Genre: Alt. r&b, hip-hop, Jazz
Reviews: NPR, Allmusic
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
With Robert Glasper among the co-producers of the album, Tarriona “Tank” Ball and her group express themselves with creativity, in the musical idiom of our time, drawing positive reviews and relevant promotion
Øyvind Torvund – The Exotica Album
Label: Hubro
Country: Norway
Genre: Contemporary classic, electronic, ambient
Review: Bit20
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Versatile Norwegian composer Øyvind Torvund achieves an interesting mix of modern classical sounds and electronics
RC & The Gritz – Analog World
Label: Ropeadope
Country: Dallas, Texas
Genre: R&b, hip-hop, neo-soul
Review: Everything is Noise
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
RC “Rceeezy” Williams & The Gritz had also kept us busy with their first album. Here they “employ” some more collaborators, for an “analog” and mostly lounge mood
Risa Branch – I Thought About You
Label: Select Ahh Records Global
Country: NY, USA
Genre: Vocal jazz, R&b
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
On her debut album, Risa Branch goes back to the roots with her bluesy, spicy voice
Wanubalé – Strange Heat
Label: Agogo Records
Country: Berlin, DE
Genre: Jazz, funk, dub
Review: Late Night Dream
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Α collective of nine young jazz musicians refining the club culture
Athletic Progression – Dark Smoke
Label: HHV
Country: Denmark
Genre: Alt. hip-hop
Review: Scandinavian Soul
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Sophisticated Scandinavian jazz hip-hop, by Jonas Cook (Keys), Justo Gambula (b), Jonathan Jull Ludvigsen (dr), featuring vocalist Minna Forouzandeh and rappers Isatta Sheriff, Blacc El
Yasmine Kyd – Showtime
Label: Ropeadope
Country: Paris, FR
Genre: R&b, neo-soul
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
With her deep, spicy, girlish voice and a tasteful blend of acoustic soul-jazz and DJ-beats, Yasmine Kyd, profoundly a Billie’s discipline, is on her fourth album
Eduardo Sandoval – Más trombón que nunca
Label: Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales
Country: Cuba
Genre: Latin jazz
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Trombonist Eduardo Sandoval’s melodic playing is supported by a solid latin rhythm-section
Smacktalk – Servin’ It Hot
Label: Smacktalk
Country: Seattle, Washington
Genre: New jazz, neo-soul
Review: Audiofemme
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Fresh and filling sound from a youthful quintet, led by alto saxophonist Sidney Hauser
Miryam Latrece – Quiero Cantarte
Label: Little Red Corvette Records
Country: Spain
Genre: Vocal jazz, bossa, flamenco
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
The warm and tender voice of promising 24 y.o. Miryam Latrece, reminds of Luciana Souza’s or Gretchen Parlato’s cool style, as it emerges out of elegant arrangements of well-known songs
The Justus Brothers – The Justus Brothers
Label: Memphis International Records
Country: Memphis, USA
Genre: Smooth jazz, funk
Review: Perfect Music Today
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Life can be simple, as long as we follow the “straight” path..
Esperanza Spalding – 12 Little Spells (Deluxe Edition)
Label: Concord Records
Country: USA
Genre: Alt. pop, vocal, modern jazz
Review: Allmusic
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
In her latest project, the charismatic Esperanza, with 12 little spells (16 in Deluxe Edition), releases music energy out of every part of her body!
Reginald Chapman – Hoodie (Remixes)
Label: Fresh Selects
Country: USA
Genre: New jazz, funk, hip-hop
Review: Downbeat
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Remixes of “Hoodie”, a tune from Prototype (2018), an album by the groovy trombonist Reginald Chapman
Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
Label: Columbia
Country: USA
Genre: Alt. rap
Reviews: Billboard, Allmusic, Lifo (GR)
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
A representative of the West Coast alternative rap/hip-hop scene, Tyler Okomna (Tyler, the Creator) makes songs in a poetic and philosophical mood, while a Grammy nomination for his last year’s Flower boy has increased his popularity
Luciel – …And That’s All I Remember
Label: Herzog Records
Country: Hamburg, DE
Genre: neo-soul, funk, soul, alt. pop
Review: Jazz Thing
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Luciel are the two brothers David and Florian Rynkowski (vocals, keys, bass), with Philipp Brämswig (g) and Tim Dudek (dr), who “share their vision and passion for great hand made pop music”, while sometimes can be more complicated, showing their true potential and modern aesthetics
Yiannis Kassetas – The Sleepwalker (single)
Label: Puzzlemusik
Country: Athens, GR
Genre: Contemporary jazz
Review: Press Release
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Soundcloud
Α catchy tune, with a descriptive intention, by saxophonist and composer Yannis Kassetas and his ten-member ensemble, consisting of remarkable Greek musicians
Tromboranga – Te Voy a Contar
Label: Tromboranga Independiente
Country: Barcelona, Spain
Genre: Latin jazz, salsa
Review: –
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
New salsa generation is here!
Aldorande – Aldorande
Label: Favorite Recordings
Country: Paris, FR
Genre: Jazz-funk, fusion, electronic
Review: Beat Caffeine
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
A bright sonic atmosphere originated from seventies jazz-funk, by Virgile Raffaëlli (b, leader), Mathieu Edouard (dr), Erwan Loeffel (perc), Florian Pellissier (keys), a guest saxophonist and some vocals
Peter Furlan – Between the Lines
Label: Beany Bops
Country: NY, USA
Genre: Contemporary jazz, soul-jazz, jazz-funk
Review: On the Turntable
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Saxophonist and composer Peter Furlan is inspired by his favorite literary readings and along with his powerful tentet, artfully lift up the spirit
Elusive – Bonsai Tree
Label: Dome Of Doom
Country: California, USA
Genre: experimental hip-hop, electronic, ambient
Review: In Search of Media
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp
Trendy and artistic everyday sound for multiple uses, by musician and producer Aaron Koslow (aka Elusive) and guests
Theo Croker – Star People Nation
Label: Sony/Masterworks
Country: L.A., USA
Genre: New jazz
Review: DL Media Music
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Trumpeter Theo Croker is among the acclaimed “new jazz” artists playing their modal, hip-hop poly-rhythms, the so called “everyday rituals of blackness”
Marc Staggers – Let’s Go out Tonight
Label: MarReg Music
Country: Washington D.C.
Genre: Soul, smooth jazz
Review: Devine Magazine
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Something romantic, from an acclaimed voice of contemporary soul, on a remarkable production
Louam – Wreckless Love
Label: daWorks Records
Country: Oslo, Norway
Genre: R&b, neo-soul
Review: Scandinavian Soul
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Influenced by the vibrant era of 90’s R&b, Louam helps us to keep contact with reality
Chris Walker – We’re In This Love Together / Celebrating Al Jarreau
Label: CCW Global, Inc.
Country: USA
Genre: Smooth jazz, Soul
Review: A Medium Corporation
Listen: Deezer, Spotify
Chris Walker, bass player, singer and music director of Al Jarreau’s band, plus a multitude of famous musicians of the jazz and soul scene, make a glamorous tribute to the recently lost soul legend. Ιt’s expected to be among the hits of this summer!
The playlist is available on music streaming services
and