Jazz

Quiet Times

Posted by modulatorsoul on June 22, 2015
Posted in: Jazz, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

quiet times flofilz

Sorry guys and gals, it has been a long minute since the last post. But let’s get to the music, no time to waste there is a lot of music that needs to be talked about it. The standout is Flofilz’s new Quiet Times Mix, the second instalment continues on that mellow sound, it ranges from your cool jazz to some acoustic soul. I personally think Flofilz has an unbelievable ear, his selections are on point. He takes you on a musical journey, leaving you guessing on the direction he is going to take you next. Don’t sleep on this mix, it is perfect for any late summer night.

Jazzmaica

Posted by modulatorsoul on March 11, 2015
Posted in: Jazz, Reggae, Ska, Soul. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Gramophone AllStars

I am really late to the party, the party is almost over but better show up than never! I stumbled on the Gramophone All Stars out of Spain, this group is amazing. They bring the energy of Ska and Reggae with the intricacies of Jazz all mixed together with some super soulful vocals. The fifteen piece band has been dropping albums since early 2010, and they have been reproducing some heavenly covers. The classic Summertime was the track that got me hooked, and most recently they dropped their newest album Jazzmaica, which they cover some classics from Stevie Wonder as well as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Highly Recommended, go check these guys out!

Sour Soul

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 27, 2015
Posted in: HipHop, Jazz. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

ghostface badbad

The prolific Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks is back, linking up with the Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD to drop their new collabo album Sour Soul. As usual, Ghost brings the raw, rapid fire, lyricism which he is known for and BADBADNOTGOOD supplies the dope soulful jazzy beats.  The Canadian group provides live instrumentation to the production and it adds another dimension to the sound. The rawness of Ghost’s lyrics with the live sound is something that I think is missing from hiphop. I think we are so used to having hiphop being produced purely from digital machines that we forgot the live instrumentation possibilities. I am really feeling this album, go cop it!

LateNight Munchies

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 7, 2015
Posted in: Jazz, Soul, World Music. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Kadjha Bonet2

The first thing you are going to notice when you first hear Kadhja Bonet’s voice is how angelic it is. The LA songstress effortlessly flows over different productions, especially on her new single LateNight Munchies, while still having a smooth and mellow sound. The new single was recorded at the Red Bull Academy in 2014 with RJ and Mark Maxwell on the production, the synthy cosmic sound pairs well with Kadhja’s voice. The only other single I have heard from Kadhja Bonet is Tears for Lamont, while it has more of a traditional worldly sound, her voice and lyrics are on point. Check her out!

Yesterday I Had The Blues

Posted by modulatorsoul on January 28, 2015
Posted in: Jazz. Leave a comment

jose-james-yesterday-i-had-the-blues-the-music-of-billie-holiday

It is something special when an artist recognizes the impact and influence another musician had on their career .The ultra talented Jose James will soon be dropping his Billie Holiday album, Jose who refers to Billie Holiday as his “Musical Mother” wanted to share his love and adoration for her music and its influence on him. Blue Note records will be dropping the album in North America in March but have created a video album trailer to get you pumped for the project. I am certain that it will be an unbelievable album and probably one of Jose’s best releases. Check it out!

FallinLuv

Posted by modulatorsoul on January 18, 2015
Posted in: HipHop, Jazz. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

fallin

There is something great about hearing jazz on sundays, the lazy day fits perfectly with the chilled out horns. The eighteen year old beatmaker Sinh from the Netherlands is a real jazz digger, his jazz selections are chopped up and laced with some dope vocal cuts. Sinh’s productions are perfect for Sundays, and in fact any mellow late nights. Go check out his Soundcloud page!

Cave Art

Posted by modulatorsoul on December 13, 2014
Posted in: HipHop, Jazz. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

DJM Trio

I know we are in the thick of the Christmas season, don’t let the stress get to you. Step back and relax, just have a coffee and listen to some great music.  Well just go grab the coffee, DJM Trio has given you the great music. The live band just dropped their new album Cave Art. The talented band has recreated and reinterpreted some classic hiphop jams, the covers range from Pete Rock’s T.R.O.Y. to Jurassic 5’s Great expectations and there are many more gems. The live instrumentation brings the sound and rhythms to a whole new level, the trio’s layering and fills of the tracks almost create completely new songs. I listened to the first track and then immediately bought the album. Don’t sleep on this album!

Bells and Whistles

Posted by modulatorsoul on December 2, 2014
Posted in: Downtempo, HipHop, Jazz, Rock. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Blockhead

Most people regard Dj Shadow’s Entroducing as one of the most influential instrumental hiphop albums, it was able to merge hiphop with rock, soul, jazz, ambient, and many other genres and bring hiphop to a wider audience. It was ground-breaking; it showed the intricacy and creativity behind the sampling and arrangement of behind the production. Blockhead has been one beat maker who continues to expand and push Dj Shadow’s musical imprint, he continues to utilize and create these heavy sampled productions while incorporating as many different genres as possible. Blockhead’s new album Bells and Whistles carries on with his signature musical landscapes, as a listener you get fully immersed floating away in aural pleasure. Bells and Whistles chops up vocal samples over banging drum arrangements with some soulful samples. Do not listen to just one track, no start and stopping, give yourself the time and give the album justice and let the whole thing play out. Highly Recommended!

Stripped

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 24, 2014
Posted in: Jazz, Rnb, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Szjerdene

Bonobo’s super successful release The North Boarders exposed world to Szjerdene and her lovely voice. Even though she has released her own EP patchwork in 2013 (check it out if you haven’t),  her collaboration with with Bonobo really turned some heads. Even though The North Boarders album was released in 2013, Szjerdene and Bonobo keep releasing reworks, or live sessions from the album. A few days ago, she released a stripped down live session of Transits and man she kills it. I think I love this version even more than the original. The simplicity of the piano keys and her voice is amazing, she has one of the smoothest voices out there. Check it out below!

Urban Flora

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 8, 2014
Posted in: Electronic, Jazz, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Urban Flora

Music transcends all, regardless of distance, culture, and language great music can be created. The intercontinental collabo between the Danish producer Galimatias and the 20 year old Ohio native Alina Baraz is something special, it was meant to be. I can’t get enough of their track Fantasy, I am not exaggerating, she has one of the smoothest voice I have heard in a long time. Check it out!