Contemporary Jazz Beats take the lead in this inaugural collection of 2024. It’s no coincidence that they are rising in popularity, since they are a comprehensible genre of jazz that, among other things, addresses the body, offering a counterbalance to today’s sedentary and stressful lifestyle. Enjoy them accordingly!
Find the Playlist here:
All about the albums contributing to the playlist
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Dr. Syros – Joint Practice, Vol. 2
Genre: Jazz-hop, new jazz
Label: meiXmusic
Place: Germany
Reviews: ArtistCamp
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Dr. Syros quartet is back with its “forward thinking live sound of r&b infused jazz”. Featuring Martin Sörös (p, rhod), Julian Hesse (tp, flg), Sebastian Schuster (b) and Daniel Mudrack (dr)
Sun Ark – Sun Ark
Genre: Jazz-hop, beats, ambient, fusion
Label: XJAZZ! music
Place: Berlin, DE
Reviews:
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Fresh multidimensional soundscapes from guitarist, composer and producer Jojo Mann and his sextet
Keyon Harrold – Foreverland
Genre: New jazz, soul, rap/hip-hop
Label: Concord Jazz
Place: Los Angeles, California
Reviews: ConcordJazz, LoudAndQuiet, TheGuardian, FinancialTimes
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Cool grooves with the necessary outbursts, by trumpeter and producer Keyon Harrold
Hiruy Tirfe – 10,000 Hours
Genre: Contemporary jazz, R&B/soul/rap/hip-hop, modal, spiritual
Label: TIRFE RECORDS
Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Reviews: WRTIorg, TheUrbanMusicScene, OcchiMagazine
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
On his debut album, saxophonist Hiruy Tirfe consistently serves Black American Music, as he embraces Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of “10,000 Hours,” suggesting that mastery in any profession is achieved through extensive deliberate practice
Yussef Dayes – The Yussef Dayes Experience – Live From Malibu
Genre: Cinematic jazz, beats, fusion
Label: Brownswood Recordings
Place: London
Reviews: BeatCaffeine, Nonesuch
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
A great drummer of the new generation, multi-instrumentalist and producer, 30 y.o. Yussef Dayes defines modern fusion. His quartet includes Rocco Palladino (b), Malik Venna (ts), Elijah Fox (keys) and Alexander Bourt (perc)
Joabe Reis – 028
Genre: Jazz-funk, neo-soul/hip-hop, latin/Brazil
Label: Batuki Records [dist. Tratore]
Place: Brazil
Reviews: CentroCultural
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Trombonist Joabe Reis‘s production, with an emphasis on tight, danceable beats
Manu Delago – Snow From Yesterday
Genre: World, fusion
Label: One Little Independent Records
Place: London, UK
Reviews: SputnikMusic, FrontViewMagazine
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Percussionist and composer Manu Delago creates an ethereal atmosphere, where the timbre of the handpan drum blends beautifully with Mad About Lemon‘s vocals and the other, well-chosen instruments
Daida – LA TRAVERSEE
Genre: Nu Jazz, fusion
Label: Naive
Place: France
Reviews: RoughTrade, ReflexRecordShop, BlueInGreenRadio
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Daida‘s sound is the result of many influences, and is often driven to dramatic climaxes. Featuring Auxane Cartigny (synths), Arno de Casanove (tr), Antonin Fresson (g), Samuel F’hima (b) and Vincent Tortiller (dr)
Tomeka Reid, Isidora Edwards, Elisabeth Coudoux – Reid/Edwards/Coudoux
Genre: Free jazz
Label: Relative Pitch Records
Place: New York
Reviews: SputnikMusic, FrontViewMagazine
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
In a nice recording with crystal clear stereo image, the three cellists Tomeka Reid (Chicago), Isidora Edwards (Chile) and Elisabeth Coudoux (Germany) outperform themselves
Ol’ Burger Beats – 74: Out of Time
Genre: alt. rap/hip-hop
Label: Coalmine Records
Place: Oslo, Norway
Reviews: StereoFox, FloodMagazine
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
“Produced at a consistent tempo of 74 beats per minute, this album also pays homage to the cultural landscape of 1974, drawing inspiration from its music, activism, artwork, and overall aesthetic”
Otis Sandsjö, Petter Eldh, Dan Nicholls – Y-OTIS TRE
Genre: Jazz-hop, experimental, modern jazz
Label: We Jazz
Place: Helsinki, Finland
Reviews: LondonJazzNews, TwistedSoulMusic, YouAndTheMusic
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Impressively creative amalgam of contemporary musical trends by Otis Sandsjö (sax), Petter Eldh (b, producer), Dan Nicholls (keys)
Ted Taforo – Bacon Lettuce and Tmrw
Genre: Jazz-rap/hip-hop, jazztronica
Label: Urban Waves Records
Place: L.A. / Brussels
Reviews:
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Saxophonist Ted Taforo develops his ideas on solid rhythmic ground
Nikos Chatzitsakos – Tiny Big Band 2
Genre: Contemporary jazz, big band, vocal jazz
Label: Self Released
Place: New York
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, MakingAScene
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Original, inventive arrangements of jazz standards, by double bassist, arranger Nikos Chatzitsakos, leading a remarkable youthful ensemble, the Tiny Big band, on their second album.
Marshall Gilkes & WDR Big Band – LifeSongs
Genre: Contemporary jazz, big band
Label: Alternate Side Records
Place: Cologne, DE / New York
Reviews:
Listen: Bandcamp, Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Α new collaboration of the famous Cologne big band band with trombonist Marshall Gilkes in the role of composer, arranger, soloist and conductor
Alan Bartuš, Robert Unterköfler – Synergy
Genre: Modern jazz
Label: Quinton Records
Place: New York ?
Reviews:
Listen: Deezer, Spotify, Youtube
Slovakian Alan Bartuš with Austrian Robert Unterköfler, in a piano/saxophone recital, still unappreciated
M O R E N E W R E L E A S E S
(that you may be interested in)
VOCALISTS
- Nesrine & Metropole Orkest – Live at Cello Biënnale Amsterdam (ACT)
- Youn Sun Nah – Elles (Warner)
- The Lisa Nobumoto Jazz Masters Orchestra – A Tribute To Jazz Singer Nancy Wilson
- Phil Crosby Jr. – Crosby by Crosby
- Andrea Motis – Febrero
- Rod Stewart with Jools Holland – Swing Fever (Rhino)
- Monika Hoffman – Ten Muses
- Tina Schlieske – The Good Life (Shifting Paradigm)
TRUMPETERS
- David Pastor – TimeLapse (Dot Time)
- Jim Rotondi – Finesse (Cellar Live)
[Ft. Notes & Tones Orchestra, Danny Grissett, Dick Oatts, ..] - John Lake – ensemble | in situ (Bandstand Presents / La Reserve)
SAXOPHONISTS, CLARINETISTS, FLUTISTS
- Ada Rovatti – The Hidden World of Piloo
[Ft. Randy Brecker, Kurt Elling, ..] - Oran Etkin – Open Arms (GroundUP)
- The Jakob Manz Project, Jakob Manz – The Answer (ACT)
- Matthieu Bordenave – The Blue Land (ECM)
- Amanda Gardier – Auteur: Music Inspired by the Films of Wes Anderson
- Terrace Martin – Her Thoughts (BMG)
- Mats Gustafsson, Sten Sandell, Raymond Strid, Gush, – Afro Blue
- Nicole McCabe – Nicole McCabe (Live at Jamboree) (Fresh Sound New Talent)
- Jim Snidero – For All We Know (Savant)
- John Surman – Words Unspoken (ECM)
- James Brandon Lewis – Transfiguration (Intakt)
[Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones, Chad Taylor] - Mike McGinnis – Outing – Road Trip II (Sunnyside)
[Jeff Hermanson, Caroline Davis, Vinnie Sperranzza. ..] - Ivo Perelman – Interaction
[Ft. Barry Guy, Ramon Lopez] - Adrien Varachaud Quartet – Time to See the Light
[Ft. Kirk Lightsey, Darryl Hall, Don Moye, Archie Shepp] - Timo Lassy, Jukka Eskola – Nordic Stew (Dox)
[Ft. Delfeayo Marsalis, Herlin Riley, ..] - Catherine Sikora, Susan Alcorn – Filament (Relative Pitch)
- Eric Seva, Michael Robinson – Freres de Songs Eric Seva invite Michael Robinson
- Diego Rivera – With Just A Word (Posi-Tone)
[Pete Rodríguez, Art Hirahara, Luques Curtis, Rudy Royston] - Pernille Bévort, Bévort 3 – Northbound
[Morten Ankarfeldt, Espen Laub von Lillienskjold] - Emile Parisien Quartet – Let Them Cook (ACT)
- Walt Weiskopf – Back Home to My Galaxy (AMM)
- James Brandon Lewis – Transfiguration (Intakt)
[Aruán Ortiz, Brad Jones, Chad Taylor]
TROMBONISTS, TUBISTS
- Clemens Gottwald – Prisma – Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 101 (Double Moon)
- David Gibson – Fellowship (Imani)
- Janning Trumann – Echo
GUITARISTS
- Mary Halvorson – Cloudward (Nonesuch)
[Ft. Patricia Brennan, Nick Dunston, Tomas Fujiwara, Jacob Garchik, Adam O’Farrill] - Enrique Heredia – Enrique Heredia Trio plays Herbie Nichols (Fresh Sound)
- Hugo Lippi – Reflections in B (Virgin)
- Fred Frith – Fifty
- Dan Arcamone – Standards, Vol. 3
- Christine Tassan et les Imposteures – Sur la route
PIANISTS, KEYBOARDISTS
- Ethan Iverson – Technically Acceptable (Blue Note)
- Enrico Pieranunzi, Jasper Somsen, Gabriele Mirabassi – Traveller’s Ways (Chalenge)
- Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey – Compassion (ECM)
- Makoto Ozone – Trinfinity (UNIVERSAL)
- David Hazeltine – Ballads and Blues Volume I (Cellar Live)
- Michael Wollny, Joachim Kühn – Duo (ACT)
- Abdullah Ibrahim – 3 (Gearbox)
- Akiko Tsuruga – Beyond Nostalgia (SteepleChase)
[Ft. Akiko Tsuruga: B3Η, Joe Magnarelli, Jerry Weldon, Ed Cherry] - Peter Beets – Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and All That Jazz!
- Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein – Wonderful (Cellar Live)
- Satoko Fujii – Jet Black
- David Chesky – New York Descargas
[Ft. John Benitez, Giovanni Hidalgo] - Håkon Skogstad – 8 Concepts of Tango
- Andy Laverne – Spot On (SteepleChase)
- Ramón Valle – Playground (IN+OUT)
[Omar Rodriguez Calvo, Owen Hart Jr.] - Jill McCarron – Gin (Jazz Bird)
[Ft. Vincent Herring, Randy Brecker, ..] - Piotr Wyleżoł – I Love Music
[Ft. Ferenc Nemeth, Michał Barański, Andy Middleton] - Pierre de Bethmann Quartet – Credo
- Larry Goldings, John Sneider – Chinwag
- Mamiko Watanabe, Santi DeBriano, Billy Hart – Being Guided By The Light
BASSISTS
- Gerald Cannon – Gerald Cannon Live at Dizzy’s Club the Music of Elvin & Mccoy
[Ft. Eddie Henderson, Joe Lovano, Sherman Irby, Steve Turre, David Kikoski, Lenny White] - Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, Ted Nash – Tell the Birds I Said Hello: The Music of Herbie Nichols
- Rufus Reid, Sullivan Fortner – It’s the Nights I Like (Sunnyside)
- Kaisa’s Machine – Taking Shape (Greenleaf)
- Kinga Glyk – Real Life (Warner)
- Henning Sieverts – Bassolo (Edition Collage)
- Miguel Calhaz – Contra Cantos, Vol. 1
DRUMMERS, PERCUSSIONISTS
- Ulysses Owens Jr. – A New Beat (Cellar Live)
- Peter Erskine, JAM Music Lab All-Stars – Bernstein in Vienna (Origin)
[Ft. Danny Grissett, ..] - Roberto Gatto – Time and Life – The Music of Tony Williams (Parco della Musica)
- Joe La Barbera – World Travelers
[Ft. Bob Sheppard, Clay Jenkins, Bill Cunliffe, Jonathan Richards] - Michael Stephans – OM/ShalOM (Dot Time)
[Ft. David Liebman, Bennie Maupin, Scott Colley, ..] - Vinnie Sperrazza Apocryphal – Sunday
[Ft. Loren Stillman, ..] - Matthieu Chazarenc – CANTO III
- Alma Tree – Sonic Alchemy Suprema
[Ra Kalam Bob Moses, Melo Alves, Vasco Trilla] - Cornelia Nilsson – Where Do You Go? (Stunt)
[ Ft. Aaron Parks, Gabor Bola, Daniel Franck] - Asher Gamedze – Another Side with Another Time Ensemble (International Anthem)
- Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits – On Different Paths
[Ft. Alex Norris, Boris Kozlov, ..] - Ches Smith – Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic)
[Ft. Anna Webber, Oscar Noriega, James Brandon Lewis, Nate Wooley, ..]
VIBRAPHONISTS
- Tyler Blanton – References & Irreverences
[Ft. Gary Versace, Joe Martin, Rudy Royston] - Ton Risco – SETE
- Joel Ross – nublues (Blue Note)
[Ft. Immanuel Wilkins , ..]
VIOLINISTS, CELLISTS
- Ben Sutin Quartet – Mr. Inevitable
(Ft. Jonathan Blake, ..)
HARMONICISTS, ACCORDIONISTS, BANDONEONISTS
- Olivier Ker Ourio, Quentin Dujardin – Serendipity
- Mames Babegenush, Benjamin Koppel – The World of Yesterday
- Hendrik Meurkens – The Jazz Meurkengers (Cellar Live)
BIG BANDS, ORCHESTRAS, ENSEMBLES
- Peter Jonatan, Metropole Orkest – Psalms Symphony
- The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra – Flying Colors (Summit)
[Ft. Pete Christlieb, Wayne Bergeron, Bobby Shew, Carl Saunders, ..] - SWR Big Band, Joe Gallardo – It Is What It Is
- Kornél Fekete-Kovács, Modern Art Orchestra, Kodály Choir – The Peacock (Tribute to Zoltán Kodály)
- Martin Sjostedt & Stockholm Jazz Orchestra – Horizon (Ubuntu)
- Alex Heitlinger – Slush Pump Truck Stop (SteepleChase)
- OSU Jazz Orchestra – Angular Tuesday
- Neal Kirkwood Big Band – Night City (Brooklyn Jazz Underground)
- Christophe Dal Sasso, Dal Sasso Big Band – Le Carnajazz des animaux
- Alex Heitlinger – Slush Pump Truck Stop (SteepleChase)
[Ft. Greg Gisbert, Bruce Williamson, Peter Sommer, John Fedchock, Jennifer Wharton, Corey Christiansen, Zach Brock, John Riley, ..]
GROUPS
- Black Art Jazz Collective – Truth to Power (HighNote)
[Ft. Wayne Escoffery, Jeremy Pelt, Xavier Davis, Victor Gould, ..] - La La Lars – La La Lars IV
- Yes! Trio – Spring Sings (Jazz and People)
[Aaron Goldberg, Omer Avital, Ali Jackson] - The Fully Celebrated Orchestra – Sob Story (Relative Pitch)
- Ludwig Wandinger, Kirke Karja, Étienne Renard – Caught in My Own Trap (BMC)
- The Rob Dixon / Steve Allee Quintet – Standards Deluxe
[Ft. Amanda King/voc, Derrick Gardner/tp. ..] - Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Idris Ackamoor – Free, Dancing. . .
- Acceleration Due to Gravity – Jonesville
[Ft. Moppa Elliott, Stacy Dillard. ..] - Gregoire Letouvet, Les Rugissants – Le cri
- Ensemble SuperMusique – Le fil d’Ariane
- Ron Van Leeuwen, Paradox Jazz Orchestra – Architones
- Blue Moods – Swing & Soul (Posi-Tone)
[Diego Rivera, Art Hirahara, Jon Davis, Boris Kozlov, Vinnie Sperrazza] - Tinto Tango – Tinto Tango plays Piazzolla
- Yes! Trio – Spring Sings (Jazz & People)
[Aaron Goldberg, Omer Avital, Ali Jackson]
BEATS, DJs & PRODUCERS, GROOVES & MOODS, SOUNDTRACKS ..
- Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau, Carlos Niño – Subtle Movements
- TamTam – Ramble In The Rainbow
- Aron & The Jeri Jeri Band & Aron Ottignon & Jeri-Jeri – Dama Bëgga Ñibi (I Want To Go Home)
- E. Lundquis – Art Between Minds
- Kiledjian – The Otium Mixtape
- Streetwize – Lift Me Up (Shanachie)
- Club des Belugas – Remixes
- Skeewiff – Sway
- Kunde – Dandelion (W.E.R.F.)
- Jig Magger – Vibes, Beats & Melody
- Mama Sissoko – Live
- SoulFried – Chonk Lé Fonk
- Yusan – Ba Yo
- Oscar Big O Walker – 7 String
- NEILO FEEL PROJECT – REBIRTH
- Daymé Arocena – Alkemi (Brownswood)
FEATURING GREEK ARTISTS (visit keepjazzin.gr)
- Dimitris Tasoudis (p), Fabio Turchetti – Cyclops
- Ares Chadzinikolau Trio – Greek Jazz I