Archive » Jazzy Ways

This page contains 7 entries posted under the "Jazzy Ways" category.

Madlib x Brasil = Tropicalismo

As much as I have written on sometimes elusive Madlib (pictured above) on this website, it stands to reason that I think the man is a musical genius. For others, you only "get" Madlib and his several incarnations, or you don't. That being said, Madlib a/k/a Otis Jackson, Jr. has teamed up with Ivan 'Mamão' Conti, drummer for Brazilian electric-funk-jazz fusion Azymuth to form like Voltron "Jackson Conti" (get it?) and released an album Sujinho. An excellent example of their collaborate effort id "Papaia" below which sounds like a reworked version of Player's "Baby Come Back" but to a samba beat. Excitement isn't even the word to describe this combination of musical talent, and like with most anything I'm feeling that's musically-related, you get to reap the benefits, too. Though this won't fix the Brasil lust I'm currently feeling that was fueled by a late-night viewing of Black Orpheus, this will do quite nicely.

Jackson Conti: "Papaia"

Check out Madlib and Mamão in action after the bounce.

ill Mami | 06/19/2008 at 1:00 PM | Comments (3) | Permalink

Go Behind the Groove of Hidden Beach Unwrapped Vol. 5

A few weeks ago we featured the latest offering in the Hidden Beach Unwrapped series. Unwrapped Vol. 5.0: The ColliPark Cafe picks up where the last installment left off and gives those hungry for jazzy versions of urban radio and club hits something to feed their ears. The CD drops next week, but in the meantime a video recently surfaced showing some of the musicians who play on the disc discussing it. Jazz musicians Lloyd Oby, Reginald "Wizard" Jones, Mike Phillips, Karl Washington, and Abdul Ra'oof all riff on the importance of jazz, live instruments and bridging the gap between yesterday and today.

Peep some footage of Mike Philly performing at the SoHo Apple store as part of iTunes' Black Music Month concert series after the bounce.

Butta | 06/18/2008 at 2:00 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Boney James: 'Syesha Mercado is the Best Thing Next to Faith Evans'

I do not watch American Idol, mainly because it's corny, stunty, and reprehensible. I think I'm all the better for it, though I'll admit I voted for Ruben like this many times back in the day because he seemed like a real-life person to me. Yet here we are. That said, I usually take a bit of interest when a contender of color makes the Top 3. Syesha Mercado is one such young lady. She didn't garner enough votes to participate in the final showdown because her name isn't David, obvs. But! She's recorded before, with none other than Boney James. Turns out, in 2006, Syesha did a version of the Rahsaan Patterson-assisted "Gonna Get It" for his Shine album, when it almost looked like Faith Evans wouldn't be loaned out by her label. Faith's version ended up happening, but when Syesha landed in AI's Top 3 last week, Boney released her version of the song and we have it below.

Syesha has described herself as "a black Christina Aguilera or Alicia Keys." Boney says she's the next best thing to Faith. That's quite an impressive imaginary pedigree. I'll submit neither, but she's not bad.

Boney Janes feat. Syesha Mercado: "Gonna Get It"

'Shine'-ing Star [BH]
Syesha Mercado [IDOL]

nOvaMatic | 05/22/2008 at 2:00 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink

Crank Dat Jazz With Hidden Beach

Are you a closet fan of the Ying Yang Twins?

Do you find yourself reciting the lyrics to "Ay Bay Bay" when no one is looking?

Or perhaps you think you'll lose your street cred amongst your neo-soul loving friends if you admit to knowing how to Crank Dat Soulja Boy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I'd like to recommend a new album that may solve your problems and that you can play around the family without your grandmother or child asking you to explain the meaning of "skeet, skeet, skeet."

Hidden Beach is coming to the rescue and dropping another installment of their popular Unwrapped series on June 24. As in previous releases, the Hidden Beach All-Stars are performing smooth and funk jazz versions of popular hip-hop songs. But unlike previous installments, Unwrapped Vol. 5.0: The ColliPark Cafe Sessions has taken the majority of source material for this disc directly from the Dirty South. So now you'll be able to bounce to jazzy instrumentals of your favorite radio and club jams without your pastor giving you the side-eye.

Check out the sampler below to hear the jazzed up versions of "Get Low" by Lil' Jon & the Eastside Boyz, "Soul Survivor" by Young Jeezy, "Splash Waterfalls" by Ludacris, and "We Fly High" by Jim Jones. You can also download the sampler directly from the Hidden Beach website.

Unwrapped Vol. 5.0: The ColliPark Cafe Sessions Sampler

Butta | 05/20/2008 at 2:40 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink

Jazz Appreciation Month

April is officially Jazz Appreciation Month. We would be remiss if we did not mention it, even on this last day of April. Given this has been the seventh year of Jazz being officially celebrated, there has been much celebrating, including the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival which actually continues into the first weekend in May. The Smithsonian Museum has also been jumping to all things Jazz this month, including visits by such luminaries as Ramsey Lewis and discussions on the genius of this truly American art form. Also, be sure to check out how you can celebrate Jazz all year long and help to show your love to its oft-forgotten influence on many contemporary genres of music, including hip-hop music.

ill Mami | 04/30/2008 at 1:30 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

Have A Jazzy Christmas With Boney James And Friends

With Christmas two weeks away, the sounds of the season will be playing a little bit longer in our ears. In the event that you're tired of your Quad City All-Star Christmas CD (don't act like I'm the only one who owns it), may I suggest the new Boney James holiday album, Christmas Present. Boney brings his brand of urban contemporary jazz to the Christmas genre and collabos with Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone and Chante Moore on new cuts and holiday standards. Peep the commercial below to hear some brief snippets from the disc.

Boney James [Official][MySpace]

Butta | 12/11/2007 at 1:30 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink

'A Love Supreme' Goes To Church

If you ever find yourself in San Francisco on a Sunday, it might be worth your while to make it over to the Saint John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church. John Coltrane's works, including his best-known A Love Supreme, which he recorded in four parts--Acknowledgement, Resolution, Persuance, and Psalm--was the inspiration behind this church that was founded in 1971. The service, given every Sunday between 12 PM to 3 PM, is open to the public and includes a bonafide sermon. But those who strictly want to reach a higher plane through Coltrane's sounds can sit in the back pews and feast their ears to the "Ministers of Sound," also known as Ohnedaruth.

Saint John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church [Official]

ill Mami | 11/14/2007 at 2:00 PM | Leave a Comment | Permalink