Playlist: Jazz Moods 4

Here is the new mix of jazzy tunes for you to enjoy during these Holidays. A little earlier than expected.

This time we have the next artists and bands featuring in it: George Benson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea and Return To Forever, Adam Holzman, United Future Organization, Incognito, Alphonse Mouzon, Grover Washington Jr., Pat Metheny Group, Stanley Clarke, Carlitos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, Donald Byrd and Esther Phillips!! 

"Jazz Moods 4" (open in Spotify)

Jazz Moods 4 Playlist Preview

It's been so long since my last post. 

I just want to announce the release of my fourth playlist in a few days.

Merry Christmas for all of you readers!

No Time Like The Future- Incognito

I still remember being inside of my father's car, travelling without moving direction to the beach, listening to Incognito. The stereo was playing No Time Like The Future, our favorite Incognito album (their seventh work, stronger than its predecessor Beneath The Surface, that is much more smooth). This was like ten years ago, but I never get tired of these recording.

The compositions have as headmaster the acid jazz legend Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick (founder of the group, composer and guitarist). Bluey and his team have achieved this time a melting of funky beats, soul vocals, Latin sambas and Moroccan rhythms. Of course all of these spiced with Incognito's traditional electrical acid jazz touch. This combination leads us to a multi-cultural and rhythmic journey to "the future". So, Bluey is not just creating great music, but he is also using al the colors of the palette.

One of the best songs is "Get Into My Groove", where Maysa is the vocalists’ leader. It is about politicians' hypocrisy, excess of affection and lack of understanding of the common man ("Don't shake me by the hand, Pretend to understand, To get into my mind, You got to get into my groove"). It is a vey funky tune that has a highly effective orchestration and a vocal that draws a melody born to be loved, so that the notes remain traced on our mind.

"Marrakech", the track that I most like, is the fourth in the tracklist. I understand it as a kind of dream through the streets of that exotic city that is Marrakech. When you listen to this piece you can feel the ethnic sounds evolving you, combining funk melodies with oriental influences. Nextly, we have a mix of bossa nova and Tibetan chants, "Fearless", the typical Incognito's instrumental groove.

The star and more famous song of the album is "Nights over Egypt", a cover of the Jones Girls one (that was written by Dexter Wansel!). A successful use of house bases and the string section makes this tune a funky cocktail that should explode in flames in every dance floor.

Definitely, No Time Like The Future is a masterpiece: stimulant, energetic and inspirational. It is engaging and relaxing at the same time. Highly recommended!

Listen to it: No Time Like The Future (open in Spotify)

Playlist- Jazz Moods 3

I have already published my new playlist. Jazz Moods 3 comes charged with jazz, blues, bossa nova, acid jazz and enough groove to keep in the good mood all this week.

Featuring artists: Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Eumir Deodato, Tom Scott, John Coltrane, United Future Organization, Clark Terry, Bob James, Donald Byrd, Alphonse Mouzon, Michael Camilo, Al Jarreau, Bobby Shad, Chuck Mangione, Miles Davis, George Benson, Oscar Peterson, US3, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Teddy Pendergrass and Jamiroquai!

Jazz Moods 3 (open in Spotify)

DotFunk

The 24 January of 2010 a new band was born. That day DotFunk performed their first gig at the London Jazz Cafe.

The band is formed by the most funky musicians and vocalists of the UK (as described by the Jazz Cafe critic); coming from the Acid Jazz groups: Jamiroquai, Incognito and Brand New Heavies. 

In my opinion, they are more than good enough to go far away from just doing concerts. Sounding so good, I think you would agree with me: they should take the plunge and release an album right now.

Line-up:

Rob Harris- guitar

Paul Turner- bass

Derrick McKenzie- drums

Dan Pearce- vocals & perc

Michelle John- vocals

Matt Steele- keys

Friends- Chick Corea

Friends was released on 1978. This was a very intense year for Corea because he recorded most of his best works as a leader (Secret Agent, The Mad Hatter and Delphi I: Solo Piano Improvisations). Also he released that year the live collaboration with Herbie Hancock (An evening with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea: In Concert). 

It is in some way a continuity of My Spanish Heart (released 2 years before), because in Friends electric and acoustic sounds coexist. Proof of this is that Corea plays sometimes a Steinway Acoustic Grand Piano and other times a Fender Rhodes; but he puts away his usual synthesizers. 

This fact and the melodic writing of the pieces that compose the album make it unique and basic for the bookshelf of any Corea fan. Musicians playing it have enough freedom to improvise; this denotes Chick's brilliant qualities as a leader. 

The result are hard swing recordings where Eddie Gomez really nails it on the bass providing rich and full sounds (with tremendous solos like the one in "Samba Song"), Farrell performing great flute jams and Gadd supplying constant creativity flows. The song named as the album, "Friends", is the one that best condenses all these features; one of those tunes that can cheer you up at any moment.

An interesting note is that the album cover (so criticised by many jazz aficionados) was designed by Chick himself. I do not know what American people have against the smurfs; I just think that they are funny.

Have a happy listening!

Friends- Chick Corea (open in Spotify)

Personnel:

Chick Corea: piano

Eddie Gomez: contrabajo. 

Steve Gadd: percusión. 

Joe Farrell: flauta. 

Live & Rare- Chet Baker

The first thing I thought when I discovered this recopilatory was that it may had the ugliest cover I have ever seen. Why a trumpeter and singer album art has a sax inside a kind of Martini glass? Is this a joke? For this reason I have not uploaded the cover, so that it does not scare you away.

Chet Baker Live & Rare is a very achieved compilation of fifteen Chet's recordings in many concerts and with the collaboration of various artists (released this year). Between those we it has to be highlighted one of my favorite drummers, Alphonse Mouzon, that plays along with Chet two pieces: "Blue 'N Boogie" and "Lady Bird".

Enjoy.

Chet Baker- Live & Rare (open in Spotify)