The coolest late night session in town. Check this out
For whatever the reason, I tend to listen to a lot of the music that was actually made around the year I was born…1974. Mostly jazz influenced compositions. Although the era was short lived, I feel like it was the most open-minded time in modern history. I only have limited memories of those years myself, but by hearing the music and remembering how people ‘felt’ to me over all as a child, it seems like a time we should always refer to and try to understand everything that made it what it was.
Hubert Laws – Rite of Spring
Of course this is a fused version of Stravinsky’s original. But Hubert Laws is of the greatest flute players and composers to have lived, in my opinion. For much of his career he brought together the sounds of classical and jazz. I love so many things about this piece, and all of his work. The ideas, possibilities and thoughts that come from listening to them are just as inspiring as the music itself.
Lonnie Liston Smith – Summer Nights
Like Laws, Lonnie is a composer and musician who has made a real impact on todays music. You can hear a lot of his riffs and hooks sampled in today’s electronic music. (Usually by someone who appreciates him and does him some kind of justice.)
Ramsey Lewis – Spring High
A jazz pianist who needs no introduction. I don’t claim to be a master pianist but if anybody want to hear the potential of piano, he’s good listening.
Miles Davis – Star on Cicely
Again, no introduction but just what the world needs every day.
McCoy Tyner – For Tomorrow (Inner Voices)
I just hear angles when I listen to this. If there is a heaven, this is what I imagine it would sound like when we approach the gate.
Also check ‘Fly with the Wind’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZIXDTH-sLA&list=PLtMVEe9teBC7Hrms7ARt1brq7_gxnyMPx
Carl Craig (Paper Clip People) – Throw – Secret Tapes of Dr. Eich
Sad to say I don’t have an original of this. Got the CD in 96 – 97 I remember. Played it all day everyday for like a year at work and on tape in the car before I discovered beta lounge and other mix streaming websites that used realaudio. I’ve misplaced half my CD collection from moving around a lot, and can’t find this. boo-hiss. Thanks Youtube.
X-Mix videos:
Ok not an album but when you talk about electronic music, the entire x-mix series is brilliant and worth a mention. Not only is the music right, but the visuals are cool. It is something I think is very futuristic in it’s day when they were made. Still stand the test of time for me… not that the 90’s were that long ago. You might ask how I can love 70’s jazz and this. I guess I hear the depth and the ideas behind the music, not just the genre or sound of it. It’s how it feels in response to the mood or time period I happen to be in.
Blue 6 – Beautiful Tomorrow
Basically this is another album you can’t wear out. Everything from its composition, to the inspiring lyrics is what makes this album so great in my opinion. It got me through some hard times.
Bjak – Feat Janet Cruz – Deeper Shade of Blue
The label itself (Minuendo Recordings) is one example of several great underground, small and independent record labels that are releasing some of todays quality music. You don’t always see it on the top 10 or even 50. But when the dust settles, years and years from now, there will be some serious music left for the world to hear from labels like this, inscribed into vinyl.
Brad Peterson – Frequency Resonance
(Black Key)
Brighton’s ever-cultured Black Key label pushes on with another house connoisseur for its next release, namely the venerated Scottish deep house producer Brad Peterson. Before now, Peterson has cropped up on seminal Detroit labels like Moods & Grooves as well as boutique vinyl only outlet Contrast Wax. His sound is deep, moody and atmospheric and comes littered with gorgeous melody and soulful synth work.
Opening up the EP is ‘Monsoon’, a nice and propulsive house jam that journeys through deep space with infectious drum hits and radiant synths fleshing out the rubbery groove. Squelchy, subtle textures also appear in the synthy trails and the whole thing is a feel good, optimistic bit of music that will get dancefloors moving and feeling at the same time.
‘Sit Back’ is a more reflective and sombre cut, with wallowing, liquid chords draped over a ponderous, snaking bassline. The percussion here rattles gently, like branches in the wind, and the mood is contemplative and cerebral, which is not something your average producer can achieve from their machines.
The classy, cultured work continues on closer ‘Cloud Remedy’ with its reverb coated hits, decisive drums and carefully spraying, ever shifting synth patterns. Classic but not overly reverential of the past, it’s a beautifully musical bit of deep house with gently tumbling, starry night sky melodies to die for. As ever with this label and artist, this is a magical EP that puts most modern deep house releases to shame.
Brad Peterson – Frequency Resonance (Black Key Cat. No. BKR010) Release: Nov 10th 2014
