I have extremely glowing praise for keyboardist Javier Santiago's album, Phoenix (which I'm feeling confident that it's one of my favorite albums of the year). So it brings me joy to continue to hype this modern fusion fantasy with Santiago's video of the live recording for the title track at Berkeley's Fantasy Studios. It's a total dream of a song that goes for miles. Check it … [Read more...]
Javier Santiago – ‘Phoenix’
The ease with which one can cling to keyboardist Javier Santiago is very reminiscent, oddly enough, of the better corners of smooth jazz. Santiago as a leader melds the best elements of jazz, R&B, and soul in very contemporary senses while maintaining an accessibility that can please many. This is an album that celebrates nature, so why would a human connection to tones not be … [Read more...]
Butcher Brown Live at Paste Studio NYC
Our favorite band out of Richmond, VA, Butcher Brown, are back at it again with a new studio session from Paste's studio in Manhattan. With a short set of songs, some brand new and some from their latest release, Live at Vagabond, watch the group kill it as expected after the jump below. 1. Street Pharmacy 0:57 2. Frontline 10:55 3. Tomahawk 26:27 Bass – Andrew … [Read more...]
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – ‘Centennial Trilogy: Diaspora’
Diaspora, the second album of trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's Centennial Trilogy of albums he's releasing this year, is softer than its predecessor, Ruler Rebel. It's warmer, more somber, more spacey a collection of songs, as if these songs and the extra time between notes, a less is more approach here, is meant to depict the actual African Diaspora, a dispersal of … [Read more...]
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – ‘Ruler Rebel’
Since time perpetually moves forward, all movement is technically forward movement. Everything is a form of progression. Experience gives texture to signature, though the elements of signature -- those attributes that define the outward expression of persona -- remain fundamentally intact because the everlasting battle of nature versus nurture will always end up in some sort of … [Read more...]