Slim Aarons Mix, Volume 3

The third installment is complete. This ongoing series of musical homages to the photography of Slim Aarons is always one of my favorites. A mix of lounge, exotica, Latin, African and jazz, among other sounds, from the mid-50s up through the mid-70s, just like much of Aarons' best work. Grab a cocktail and a seat by a pool for this one.

Tracklist: 

1. Elisabeth Waldo Group – Malaguena
2. Joseph Mattera & His Orchestra – Say Si Si

3. Los Indios Trabajaras – Maria

4. Puanani Alama – Keep Your Eyes on the Hands

5. Andiamo – Jerry Vale

6. Eloise and her Goombay Trio – Similau

7. Sarah Vaughn – East of the Sun

8. Martin Denny – Paradise Found

9. Les Baxter – The Left Arm of Buddha

10. Ken Griffin – Marea Baja

11. 101 Strings Orchestra – Tropicana

12. Boogaloo Joe Jones – The Mindbenders

13. Yvonne Baker – Eyes

14. Los Hacheros – Desastre

15. Los Indios Trabajaras – Maran Cariva

16. Miriam Makeba – Hamba Naye

17. Ely Camargo – Taieiras

18. Segun Bucknor – Smoke

19. Enoch Light – Hushabye Mountain

Download a copy of the mix  (media fire)

Go back for Volume 1 and Volume 2 as well. 

High Risk

Something really smooth for your ears. Shigeto joins forces with trumpeter Dave Douglas and a couple other players for a new project called High Risk. The full length drops 6/23.

Black Milk x A K U A

Oh my goodness. A favorite producer/MC from Detroit makes serious magic with a sweet crooning vocalist for something between perfectly melds golden era jazz and future soul-hop.

via MOCD

Thee Myghty Fine

A delicious blend of future beats, indie rock, jazz and more. There's a lot of music on the internet, but this absolutely deserves your attention. 

Kratos Himself

This has some David Axelrod meets Cinematic Orchestra qualities to it. I'm digging it. 

Alice Russell x Falty DL

Deeeeep. Like Ez Rollers bass. 

Side Steps Quintet

Straight outta New Zealand and jazzy like a rainy day in the '70s. 

via Potholes

Laidback Sunday Evening

Chilling at home and threw down this mix. Contains awesomeness such as the Heliocentrics & Mulatu Astatke, Jane Birkin, Jesse Futerman, Karl Hector, War, a DITC remix and loads of other jams that will blow your mind.

OHM Dedication — Sun Ra

Mr. Beatnik spins his favorite Sun Ra. Far out results. Thanks One Handed Music.


more info.

Shigeto "Huron River Drive"

Shigeto riffs on the classic "Harlem River Drive" for this mellow gem. A laidback organ clears a path for shuffling percussion and crisp, deep bass. This would be a great opening tune for a downtempo set. Click the down arrow button to keep an mp3 version of the tune.
  Shigeto - Huron River Drive by ghostly

His 2nd album, Lineage, is due out on Ghostly on January 31.

Hackney Colliery Band

Check out this dose of smoothness from across the pond.


Get more info on their label Wah Wah 45s and check out a 7" they have for sale. There's also a more extensive explanation of the band's background.

Covers Week #4

We're gonna smooth things out today with jazz guitar impresario Maynard Parker's take on Roberta Flack's brilliant "Killing Me Softly."

I don't think Parker's cover really gets identifiable until around 45 seconds in when he hits notes of the title line. I pondered using the Lauryn Hill version, but what's the fun in that.  
This Maynard Parker record Midnight Rider is actually all covers, and if you go back in the archives with the helpful search function, you might find a post I did last year with his version of "The World is a Ghetto," which is one of the coolest instrumental covers ever.

Robert Glasper Review

Check out my review of Robert Glasper's ambitious jazz/fusion record, Double Booked, over on Potholes. Deft on the keys, Glasper's project manages to straddle traditional jazz and more contemporary manifestations to offer up a little something for everybody.

Brittany Bosco's Video Debut

Brittany Bosco has released her video debut, combining two tracks off her Spectrum EP that is getting re-released pretty soon.

The video is crazy. Where most artists would have dropped some big flashy track first, Brittany drops an elegant throwback video for solid jazz tracks that really highlight her amazing vocal capabilities.

If you missed her three very different sets during the week of the Savannah Urban Arts Festival, you really missed something special.

Song of the Week - Maynard Parker "The World is a Ghetto"

This week's song of the week is something on smooth side. "The World is a Ghetto" by Maynard Parker is just such a slick groove. This is music to cruise with. Sonic storytelling at its finest. From his 1973 album, Midnight Rider.



Download the track here.

Phays - The Excellent Adventure Vol. 1

A nice blend of breaks, jazz, garage, psych and a dash of reggae I just finished. No fancy DJ work, just a taste of some nicely selected music. There's 60+ cuts broken up into 4 tracks. I'd rather not take the time and space to post the contents here, but feel free to email me if you want the full tracklist.

This is the advance release prior to a new EP of original stuff in the works called Listening Habit that should be done in late spring.

Download.

Or listen first:

Here You Are - Phays


Lets Go to the Road House - Phays


Can You Feel It? - Phays


A Few Too Many Drinks With Friends - Phays