Tag Archives: Jazz

So Romantic

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

So Romantic by EZRAKH (New Jersey)

Remember ALL CAPS when you spell the mans’ name. EZRAKH is the man and if you’ve been lucky enough to be in the room when he’s spinning, you know it’s always a vibe to bring the people together. Organic and eclectic in taste, mixes are likely to include anything from afrobeat to jazz to funk to hip hop to house. Part of the Brick Bandits crew out of NJ, EZRAKH has made his name known at every venue you can imagine including premier NYC/Brooklyn clubs to house parties and underground d.i.y holes in the wall. It is his deep collection and broad taste that allows him to chameleon into any scenario, all the while staying true to his form. Check him out on the scene and stream/download his current mixes on soundcloud. [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, afrobeat, brick bandits, brick city, Brooklyn, DIY, dj, EZRAKH, funk, hip hop, house, indie, indie hip hop, indie-soul, Jazz, mix, New Jersey, New Music, New York, Newark, NYC, Remixes, Samples, soul, T: Remix, trip hop

Halfling EP

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | 1 Comment

202325787-1 Halfling EP by The Sifters (New York, NY)

I was surprised to find a group like this relatively unknown in my city. The Sifters are a trio from New York state that bring together world music, pop, and indie-folk to create an eclectic sound not commonly heard in the DIY scene, simply because the arrangements are just more intelligent than we’re used to hearing at our local Brooklyn haunts. A band like this could be good to keep all these buzz bands in check because they make it clear how totally possible it is to release well-produced and written music independently. Although they certainly wear their influences way out on their sleeves (Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens), this is a group with an unquenchable thirst and undoubtedly will progress towards their own sound in due time. I’d be very surprised if I don’t start seeing this name around town more as people get hip to what The Sifters have to offer. Now go download this 8 song album for FREE! [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: LP/EP

Tagged alternaive, Ambient, andrew bird, Folk, free download, free music, Grizzly Bear, indie, indie music, indie rock, Jazz, New Music, New York City, pop, rock, Sufjan Stevens, The Sifters, world

The Seshen

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

1099055586-1 The Seshen by The Seshen (Bay area, CA)

A strong music scene produces results. Upon checking out and reviewing a new single from Oakland based band Bells Atlas, I stumbled on a delectably similar group called The Seshen also making noise in the Bay area. I thought it was a great double find especially how tied together the two bands were sonically and geographically and when I noticed they often play shows together it all made sense. The Seshen is psychedelic neo-soul for 2013. There are all the Badu/Dilla qualities you crave with a modern turn for indie-electronic-pop like Little Dragon and other new hit makers. Complex and colorful, this is a band that gives hope to the indie music world. Plus, it’s not often you hear Cuíca used in a song. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged Bay area, Bells Atlas, Berkeley, California, electronic, hip hop, indie, indie music, Jazz, Little Dragon, neo-soul, New Music, Oakland, pop, soul, The Seshen

Up in the Trees

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

artworks-000040083364-zs3mod-t500x500 Up in the Trees by Ikebe Shakedown (Brooklyn, NY)

Brooklyn based afro-beat funk band Ikebe Shakedown is quickly building a ton of credits to their name. Having released a highly praised full-length album not long ago as well as numerous vinyl/digital singles, the band recently teamed up with German indie 45 label Mocambo Records to drop a fiery new single ‘Up in the Trees’. Recorded at the most in-demand soul studio in Brooklyn, Daptone, this track is nothing short of the consistently top-tier, authentic releases that pour out of those walls. The limited edition 45 has already sold out but you can stream it on repeat on Soundcloud. Let this track be your introduction to the band and start marking your ICal with their upcoming dates because it won’t be long before can’t see them at your favorite local Brooklyn spot anymore. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged afro-beat, Brooklyn, Daptone, funk, Ikebe Shakedown, indie, Jazz, Mocambe, New Music, New York, single, soul

Unfold Ordinary Mind

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

962271553-1 Unfold Ordinary Mind by Ben Goldberg (New York City)

It would not do my feelings of utter amazement and awe any justice to describe myself as “lucky” to have witnessed one of the few NYC performances of Ben Goldberg’s Unfold Ordinary Mind at The Stone this winter. The Stone is one of my favorite venues in the city, a non-profit, artist-run space directed by experimental jazz icon John Zorn and when I heard about this performance featuring drummer Ches Smith, guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco), saxophonists Ellery Eskelin and Rob Sudduth, and of course Ben Goldberg on Eb contra alto clarinet, I hopped right on the J and crossed the Williamsburg Bridge to check it out. The album, and live set, is very diverse in style, stretching from heavy, Mingus-esque mayhem to 60s acid rock with Nels shredding and Ches attacking his kit in a Keith Moon fury. Every tune moves in unanticipated directions and delivers a rawness that is undoubtedly as real as the chemistry felt live in session. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged Avant-Garde, Ben Goldberg, Experimental, Jazz, john zorn, live music, nels cline, New Music, New York City, rock, the stone, Unfold Ordinary Mind, Wilco

Seasons EP

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

3339052117-1 Seasons EP by Moods (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

The majority of songs on this EP were written throughout the course of all four seasons, keeping in mind the changing of weather, tone, and all around environment in which we work and live. Beatmaker and producer Moods compiled this EP of soulful instrumentals both capturing and transcending the changes in time and seasons. Some songs incorporate chimes or a free flowing breeze to help listeners picture a warm, relaxing scene while others like ‘Snow Steps’ in title alone help us cool out and approach the winter blues in a positive way. Ambient background sounds, soaring electric piano, bass synth and jazz guitar samples mixed with drum loops perpetually behind the beat create a very human and genuine feel throughout this album. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged Ambient, beats, electronic, EP, groove, hip hop, indie, indie music, instrumental, Jazz, Moods, Netherlands, New Music, R&B, rotterdam, Samples, Seasons, soul

Two At A Time

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

3504976501-1 Two At A Time by The Two Man Gentlemen Band (Brooklyn/LA)

Recorded live to tape and funded by fans via Kickstarter, California pre-war swing, American blues and jazz revivalists The Two Man Gentlemen Band have brought us an incredible new record titled Two At A Time. A handsome, clean-cut duo consisting of Andy Bean on 4-string electric tenor guitar and Fuller Condon on upright acoustic bass (though you’ll never hear more than the clicking of strings on macbook speakers), song after song we’re pulled between old timey acoustic pop and 21^st century themes like prescription drugs and relationship troubles. This is upbeat, hot jazz that tourists would be so lucky to discover on a side street off Bourbon in NOLA only to find there’s much more to them than busking. While the album is not for a full free download, you can grab their single ‘Pork Chops’ free of charge and expect to come back for more. My perfect night would consist of smoking indoors, bottomless whiskey, and a small stage for The Two Man Gentlemen Band, Chris Thile, and Squirrel Nut Zippers to strum and stomp. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged americana, blues, Brooklyn, California, Folk, hot jazz, Jazz, Los Angeles, New Music, New York, nola, pop, swing, The Two Man Gentlemen Band, Two At A Time

Hermit Song

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

2627983467-1 Hermit Song by morning… (Ringwood, NJ)

Maybe it’s the opening count-in scream or the childish scribble on the cover art or the lyrical drop of the word “genitals” in the first verse but whatever your reasoning is, you shouldn’t take morning… too seriously. Their latest single ‘Hermit Song’ is a perfect example of what the band is about — intelligent, light-hearted, indie-pop with clever inclusion of jazz, math-rock and other Captain Beefhearty weirdness. In the past two years or so, they have become a staple of the New Jersey music scene, being part of an artist-organized group called Tiny Giant Artist Collective, and have pulled in enough press to be looked at as the “professional” band they are. This is a group of guys with an endless display of passion and humility and luckily for fans the end product is super fun, lively music to swing your head to. Check them out at upcoming shows in New Jersey and Brooklyn and name your price to pick up this great new single. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged funk, Garage, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie rock, Jazz, math rock, morning, New Jersey, New Music, ringwood, rock

Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

118663232-1 Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde by Amerigo Gazaway/Gummy Soul (Nashville, TN)

An indie label coming out of Nashville, TN with more soul than a sock with a hole, Gummy Soul has redefined the way we listen to golden era hip hop and soul music with every album release. Generating a ton of hype surrounding the release of Fela Soul, a mash up of Afrobeat godfather Fela Kuti and De La Soul, 2011 was a milestone year for them. The latest dream mash up to drop is a pairing of 90s hip-hop legends The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest called Bizarre Tribe. The album is a compilation of classic Pharcyde acapellas thrown over the jazz/soul samplings of Tribe favorites like ‘Bonita Applebum‘ and so many more from their discography. With thousands of amateur mash up albums clogging the arteries of the hip-hop community over the years, Gummy Soul brings music fans brilliantly selected and produced tracks that pump new life into songs that are now over a decade old. Never a dull release from this label and I’ll surely be covering more albums in the future. Fans can go to their bandcamp page to download the album for free or with a generous donation. [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, C: Staff Favorites, T: LP/EP

Tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Bizzare Tribe, free music, Gummy Soul, hip hop, Jazz, mash up, Nashville, New Music, rap, soul, T: Remix, Tennessee, The Pharcyde

My Guess

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

My Guess by Thought-Fox (Dublin, Ireland)

Listen to some jazz, it’s good for you. This jazz is explorative with moments of free form, clear resolution, and pattern; it is veracious. Lauren Kinsella, displays a playful scat and a smooth sultry whimsy about her vocal styling. Thought-Fox seducings the listener, teasing with an interplay of down low and slow n upbeat repeat, relax and enjoy. Don’t over intellectualize, it is just jazz. It’s for smoky bars, late nights, drunken affairs, and after hours strolls, to keep you warm, mesmerize, and titillate. @TheSnakeRecords

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Posted in A: Spinrad, T: LP/EP

Tagged classical, contemporary, Dublin, electro acoustic, electronic, Experimental, Jazz, My Guess, Thought-Fox

Tag Archives: Jazz

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