These cats are exactly what Jazz needs to bring kids as well as some adults back to the culture of jazz. Jazz was and still is the spirit of hip-hop. These artists have great albums that any Soul, Funk, R&B, hip-hop head can vibe to.
On paper, Ezzie Spezzie should be a wet dream for me - cute (she's making a concious effort to dodge "Pretty") and a virtuoso bassplayer, hailed by all as the Princess Leia of Jazz???, but I find it a little too clever. Maybe it's just too clever for me, but it should swing that bit harder? Or is she under pressure as a Jazz Academic to flex the compositional chops for the sake of flexing?
Gregory Porter I can't get into either. Obviously dude has talent but his voice is completely characterless to my ears. Presses no buttons. I wish him well doe, because he doesn't appear to have too much competition and the music deserves being heard by a wider and younger audience. But what is with the balaclavas and ting? Dude must be sweating like a rapist.
Thanks for the other yew choobs, doe - I'll check them today.
On paper, Ezzie Spezzie should be a wet dream for me - cute (she's making a concious effort to dodge "Pretty") and a virtuoso bassplayer, hailed by all as the Princess Leia of Jazz???, but I find it a little too clever. Maybe it's just too clever for me, but it should swing that bit harder? Or is she under pressure as a Jazz Academic to flex the compositional chops for the sake of flexing?
Gregory Porter I can't get into either. Obviously dude has talent but his voice is completely characterless to my ears. Presses no buttons. I wish him well doe, because he doesn't appear to have too much competition and the music deserves being heard by a wider and younger audience. But what is with the balaclavas and ting? Dude must be sweating like a rapist.
Thanks for the other yew choobs, doe - I'll check them today.
lol, I dig Ezzie, she's cool. maybe she has TOO much going for her? bass virtuoso, hottie, early 20's, college professor, big fro, latina?? . . . huh? lol
as for Greg Porter, rofl! . . .ur mean dude, counseling.
I like them both, though I'm not the hugest fan of vocal jazz, but its a helluva lot better to suiting my fancy than radio shit
Saw Spalding Sunday night.
Not with her band, a fundraiser for Thara Memory's American Music Project.
The complaints on Spalding, 'she is too good', 'too polished' too npr', 'too cute, are undestandable, but not really fair.
I've been on the other side of this complaining about Wynton, only to have Batmon post up vids of Wynton making great music.
Spalding also makes great music and people should respect. Unless they don't want to.
Kids in the AMP, and I know a few, have to listen to hours of Thara talking about what it was like in the jazz clubs in the 40s, 50s.
He teaches them the difference between playing the notes and playing the music.
Thara does not believe in self esteem. If a kid wants praise from him they have to be able to improvise and play the music right.
When my friend auditioned for AMP Thara asked his name, then gave him a nickname and told when he proved he could play jazz he would get his name back.
Me too. Incidentally, BBNG had a little something to say regarding Glasper:
???Fuck Robert Glasper,??? laughs Tavares, half-seriously. ???He???s doing well in jazz, but he???s into this ???real hip-hop, fuck Lil Wayne??? type thing. He???s stuck in 1990. The key to making good music is having an open mind.???
Covering Smells Like Teen Spirit with vocoder???d vocals doesn???t do jazz any favours, adds Sowinski as we discuss Glasper???s already acclaimed February release, Black Radio. ???I???m pretty sure if Kurt Cobain were alive, he???d be like, ???This is fucking horrible.??????
Hansen puts it best: ???It just doesn???t have any balls.???
And Vijay Iyer has been killing it for thepast few years. His latest album won a bunch of Downbeat awards and has an MJ cover, a Flying Lotus cover and this:
And Christian Scott has had a few good records over the past few years:
Comments
Darryl Reeves
I'll disagree.
Cool thread though.
I like the Robert Glasper album a lot, but the rappers are by far the least interesting thing about it.
ur right, I shouldn't say "the" spirit of hip-hop, but I will say it is "a" spirit of hip-hop
I agree.
Spalding has gotten a lotta press here in NYC and Ive been curious, but there is something a little too NPR going on for me.
Cute as hell.
yeah that was pretty dope!
Gregory Porter I can't get into either. Obviously dude has talent but his voice is completely characterless to my ears. Presses no buttons. I wish him well doe, because he doesn't appear to have too much competition and the music deserves being heard by a wider and younger audience. But what is with the balaclavas and ting? Dude must be sweating like a rapist.
Thanks for the other yew choobs, doe - I'll check them today.
Thanks for the headsup.
lol, I dig Ezzie, she's cool. maybe she has TOO much going for her? bass virtuoso, hottie, early 20's, college professor, big fro, latina?? . . . huh? lol
as for Greg Porter, rofl! . . .ur mean dude, counseling.
I like them both, though I'm not the hugest fan of vocal jazz, but its a helluva lot better to suiting my fancy than radio shit
Cool, here are a few more from him
My young friend who followed her in the Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra will be playing too.
Cool post!
I completely agree with the "keeping jazz alive" sentiment.
Wondering if you've introduced yourself on the board. If not:
How did you get here?
Where are you from?
Favourite Popeye's side dish?
Do you have records?
Thriller, or Off The Wall?
Etc.
Kindly,
parallax
Well cool! thanks!
How did you get here?
came across this site from a google search
Where are you from?
Athens, GA
Favourite Popeye's side dish?
?.....red beans and rice, but i don't really eat popeyes
Do you have records?
yep!
Thriller, or Off The Wall?
Off The Wall
Mandrill!
Welcome!
Yeah, I can understand that. She is very polished. ... she's still awesome though! and gorgeous!!!
Not with her band, a fundraiser for Thara Memory's American Music Project.
The complaints on Spalding, 'she is too good', 'too polished' too npr', 'too cute, are undestandable, but not really fair.
I've been on the other side of this complaining about Wynton, only to have Batmon post up vids of Wynton making great music.
Spalding also makes great music and people should respect. Unless they don't want to.
Kids in the AMP, and I know a few, have to listen to hours of Thara talking about what it was like in the jazz clubs in the 40s, 50s.
He teaches them the difference between playing the notes and playing the music.
Thara does not believe in self esteem. If a kid wants praise from him they have to be able to improvise and play the music right.
When my friend auditioned for AMP Thara asked his name, then gave him a nickname and told when he proved he could play jazz he would get his name back.
This girl was also featured, 19 or 20yo.
Terrible video, but superb modern jazz with a nod to the roots, imo. Tight playing.
Kindly,
parallax
Me too. Incidentally, BBNG had a little something to say regarding Glasper:
???Fuck Robert Glasper,??? laughs Tavares, half-seriously. ???He???s doing well in jazz, but he???s into this ???real hip-hop, fuck Lil Wayne??? type thing. He???s stuck in 1990. The key to making good music is having an open mind.???
Covering Smells Like Teen Spirit with vocoder???d vocals doesn???t do jazz any favours, adds Sowinski as we discuss Glasper???s already acclaimed February release, Black Radio. ???I???m pretty sure if Kurt Cobain were alive, he???d be like, ???This is fucking horrible.??????
Hansen puts it best: ???It just doesn???t have any balls.???
http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=185822
And Vijay Iyer has been killing it for thepast few years. His latest album won a bunch of Downbeat awards and has an MJ cover, a Flying Lotus cover and this:
And Christian Scott has had a few good records over the past few years: