Browsing Tag

Jazz Funk

Stix Bones is back on the skins in his funked-up jazz fusion, LEAP

Posted on 4 October 2023

Following the phenomenal success of his hip-hop-influenced LP and a string of critically acclaimed singles, Brooklyn’s most prodigal jazz son, Stix Bones, is back on the skins once more with his seminal release, LEAP, featuring Bob Beamon.

With flavours of North African Funk in the culturally layered rhythmics of the instrumental track and sparks of Latino flair within the keys, vibrancy radiates from the exuberantly sophisticated core of LEAP. While the syncopated percussive fills and seductive bassline growls set up the grooves, the horn section shimmers the soundscape with an unfaltering sense of expressive euphoria that will heighten any mood.

With his previous releases, including his debut LP, Groove Like This, Stix Bones featured on 40 radio stations across the globe and became no stranger to the jazz charts. He’s equally as accoladed in the live circuit; when he’s not opening for the likes of Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, and Babyface, he’s helping world-renowned artists complete their albums and playing with the likes of Soulfege. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes a permanent fixture in the Jazz Hall of Fame.

Stream LEAP, which was officially released on September 22, on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marlon Bianco Dials Major Tom in His Psychy Jazz-Funk Feat of Sonic Dystopia, Planet Coronet

Posted on 17 March 2023
https://soundcloud.com/user-277095369/planet-coronet/s-9FqWUOnhS3h?si=51dc22e2904242f797dc135424286ab8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

With a tonal palette spacey enough it wouldn’t be out of place spinning on a turntable in the TARDIS in a vintage Dr Who episode, Marlon Bianco’s take on psychedelic jazz-funk in his latest release, Planet Coronet, will have you transcending into outer space from the first synthy oscillating note.

Bianco took care of every instrumental, bar the reverently jazzy sax lines laid down by Jonny Chung, who well and truly embodies the spirit of jazz to bring you back down from the astral plane the synthetics have transported you to.

Unlike many of the lockdown-born projects, the solo endeavour from the North London-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, which started by laying a few chords down on a Roland keyboard, Bianco is an artist the airwaves would cry out for if silence should fall around his ingenuity.

His dystopia-encompassing sounds are reminiscent of the alien times we find ourselves insulated within, but it’s hard to shed a tear when the end sounds so euphonically sweet.

Planet Coronet will officially release via Other Planet Records on March 17th. Catch it on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Polyphonic Exophilia – ups et pertulerat: a progressive soul-funk serenade.

Posted on 6 September 2021
Vol. 2 by Polyphonic Exophilia

Norway-hailing music collective, Polyphonic Exophilia, describe their sound as sensual progressive alternative soul-funk, and it’s fair to say, if any bassline is going to leave you weak at the knees it is the one in the standout single, ups et pertulerat, from their EP, Vol.2.

Ups et pertulerat is the Latin phrase for ups and downs, and that’s exactly what the soundscape explores; if you constantly find yourself between mania and melancholy, you may just find that your tumultuous mind reflected at you through this exploratively engaging release.

The jazzy, tonally warm instrumental single is all about the bass-carved grooves and the colourful alchemy that breaths between them. It leaves you in anticipation of what the next progression will offer as the shimmering polyphonic keys bring the soul in the absence of vocals.

Check out Polyphonic Exophilia on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kayla Lynn & the Change deliver a blissful jazz-funk fusion in ‘More Than Friends’

Posted on 19 August 2021
Kayla Lynn & the Change

Bassist, singer-songwriter and empowerment speaker Kayla Lynn has released her latest jazzy funk single, More Than Friends, with her band The Change; the rich harmonic tones paired with the fresh take on funk is an aural experience that you are unlikely to forget.

She has been making major waves in Asheville, NC’s funk scene with her blissfully textured sound and endlessly dynamic vocals that practically write success into the artist’s future. It is almost a paradox how More Than Friends simultaneously sends you back to the roots of soul and has the potential to definite the future of neo-soul. It’s a stellar release from a refreshingly exceptional artist.

Check out More Than Friends on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Don’t Freak Out have released their endearingly explicit jazz neo-soul pop single, ‘Shit Cars’

Posted on 15 June 2021

‘Shit Cars’ is the latest endearingly explicit neo-soul jazz-funk track by the off the cuff artist, Don’t Freak Out, who play with elements of RnB and hip hop to bring a sense of easy accessibility to their endlessly eccentric releases.

The extended-release keeps your synapses on full alert right up until the outro as it grooves its way through jazzy interludes, rap verses and choruses that make an obscure earworm out of Shit Cars.

With each member of Don’t Freak Out being a seasoned professional, they set themselves apart with the nuance of their sound just as much as they do through the uniqueness of it. Given that they quite literally paid ode to shit cars with their latest release, that says something.

Shit Cars is due for release on June 11th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MiLES. serves sun-kissed soul in his genre-bending single, ‘Wherever it Is’.

Posted on 27 May 2021
MiLES.

MiLES.’ latest genre-bending single, Wherever it Is, dug its heels right into the roots of soul, borrowed a few surf rock tones and revived timeless, dreamy, jazzy-sun-kissed melodies on synths, guitars and drums.

To say that the single is just as experimental as Mr Bungle’s album, California, wouldn’t be a stretch but the straight from the soul crooning on offer here will undoubtedly be a hit with any fans of Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator and Steve Lacy.

Making this single infinitely more impressive, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer only picked up a guitar for the first time in August 2020; the distinction in the mellifluous progressions may try to convince you otherwise.

MiLES.’ latest single is due for release on May 28th; you can hear it for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Bluebass brings the feel-good factor with their funk-riddled track, ‘Never Give Up on Your Dreams’

Posted on 13 April 2021

Blackpool-based singer-songwriter and producer Bluebass fed the influence of his hometown into his latest feel-good track, ‘Never Give Up on Your Dreams’. Blackpool isn’t all illuminations and rabid hen parties; it also has an ever-lasting tie to the Northern Soul and Jazz Funk scene which rose from the town’s working-class roots.

With their latest release, Bluebass embraced the old school before contorting familiar grooves into catchy contemporary rhythms that would go down a storm on a dancefloor. Their upraising mix of RnB, pop, funk and soul pulls together to offer all of the aural euphoria that you could ask for.

Never Give Up on Your Dreams is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pablo Ojeda’s latest single “Greasy” oozes contemporary Funk appeal

Posted on 5 August 2020

Funk Bassist Pablo Ojeda released their 6-track EP Gotta Move on July 17th. While each of the instrumental tracks is sure to be a hit with any fans of Jazz Funk, the perfect introduction to their almost impossibly smooth style is “Greasy”.

Greasy may seem like a strange choice for a bass-led Jazz Funk mix, but once you’re half-way through, you’ll notice that your consciousness has already been consumed by the mesmeric unpredictable progressions which in true Jazz style, throw time signatures out of the window.

There may be plenty of nostalgia to be found in Greasy, but there’s no disputing that it’s a modernistic soundscape which oozes contemporary Funk appeal. Get it in your ears.

You can check out Pablo Ojeda’s single Greasy for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Psychedelicacy – Fairground: A Uniquely Indulgent Jazz Infusion Playlist Essential

Posted on 26 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/user-566715469/fairground

It’s no great surprise that Glaswegian Neo-Soul artist Psychedelicacy’s recently released single “Fairground” hasn’t failed to garner plenty of attention.

The uniquely indulgent Jazz Infusion track offers a beguiling mix of Cabaret, Pop, RnB, Jazz and Soul which is as cathartic as it is endearing. And it’s not every day we can say that about a track. But perceptibly, Psychedelicacy’s prodigally improvisational style permits their soundscapes to ooze distinction.

The smooth Jazz instrumentals create the perfect platform for Anna Wood’s expressively accordant vocals which add plenty of personality to the track around the guitar and sax solos.

Fairground may not be everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, it would be fairly insulting to the ingenuity of the track to insinuate that it could ever be comparable to something so commonplace.

You can check out Psychedelicacy’s track Fairground for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast