Archive for the We Got The Jazz Category
The duo of Olaf Hilgenfeld and Iftah Gabbai is definitely not your run-of-the-mill techno, disco or jazz. So then, color me intrigued by Skinnerbox & their unusual (and efficient marriage) of disparate styles, particularly when it matches so clearly with the musical calico I’m hearing out of European electronic music lately.
There’s a taste of Richie Hawtin meets Mark Farina meets 808 State in these songs. Do I have your attention?
Under the surface, there are also tastes of Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones influence in this particular collection, dotted with edgy Grace Jones/Nina Hagen/Lene Lovich-esque references (thanks to the vocals of occasional guest Elle P) — an embrace of experimental 80’s synth/Moog influences enmeshed with a love of Italo-Disco and New Wave lives in every corner of this music, it’s easy to fall in love with instantly and, later, return to analyze it’s cleverness. Even with it’s technoodling, Skinnerbox’s recordings here are (at their core) jazz music — completely experimental, and definitely out there.
Check out these tracks, courtesy of the band themselves. If you dig it, be sure and check out this terrific live set of theirs from Paris in October of 2009.
Skinnerbox – “King of Diamonds”
Skinnerbox – “Turtletaube”
Skinnerbox – “Varvantakis”
[Purchase : MySpace Page]
The legendary Gil-Scott Heron, the black radical poet, musician, composer, author, purveyor of spoken word and singer (whom many refer to lovingly with titles like “the black Bob Dylan” and “the godfather of rap”), has been long presumed dead due to his conspicuous absence from music. Though kept alive through retrospectives and reverential referencing of him by those whom he influenced, Scott-Heron himself seemingly vanished 15 years ago after an experimental and efficacious music career which spanned four decades. Like several of his contemporaries, Scott-Heron accrued a tremendous following and much of his success during the 1970’s and 1980’s, a short time after which he seemed to all but disappear. When Scott-Heron began failing to show up for scheduled concerts, rumors began to circulate over the course of many years about his cocaine abuse & health troubles. MORE »
I just haven’t been updating lately and I don’t know why. I am listless and bored with everything (not to mention being deep in the struggle), I found myself sleeping less and writing more. Just not here. It’s the mid-summer lull before the cool of autumn prevails. I’m an autumn baby, you see, so we suddenly bloom when the leaves are turning their cool oranges and muted browns and such.
Anyways, in my sullied state, I’ve found myself returning over and over to this song all week. Inspired by a request from I’m Waking Up To…” (asking what folks wake up to in the morning), I’ve decided to let the cat out of the bag about the one track that does it for me first thing in the morning. It feels empowering and essential, like the sun itself. Over time, I’ve tried the Rotary Connection’s original version, then that of the late Minnie Riperton. As lovely as each was, it did not hold the same power for me as this version, performed by Nuyorican Soul and deeply remixed by the unmistakable loving and powerful genius of London’s 4hero. At times, I find it so beautiful I’m brought to tears. The remix’s broken beat symphony is everything I need to start my day. Maybe you’ll think so, too.
Nuyorican Soul – I Am The Black Gold of the Sun (4hero Remix)
This track is available on 4hero’s very hard to find The Remix Album, Vol. 1 from Amazon.Com.
