Friday, May 29, 2020

New Music Releases From Deon Yates, Alexander Hawkins & Tomeka Reid, Daniel Haaksman

Deon Yates - Quintastic

Nearly 10-years after being named runner-up in the Capital Jazz Challenge, that launched his exciting and prolific career as a Smooth Jazz artist, Detroit-bred saxophonist Deon Yates is feeling more than great, he's feeling QUINTASTIC. The socially trending title of his 5th solo album literally means “a person aged 50 or more and is still attractive and successful.” That timeless magnetism, relentless hooks and intense, horn-sizzling energy are the driving forces that propelled the title track onto the Groove Jazz Top 100 Smooth Jazz Songs of 2019! Featuring guest producers Chris "Big Dog" Davis, Jackiem Joyner and Darren Rahn, the current single, "In The Moment," features producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Mitchell! ~ smoothjazz.com

Alexander Hawkins & Tomeka Reid - Shards & Constellations

The title's a great one – a very apt description of the sorts of sounds created by the improvising duo of Tomeka Reid on cello and Alexander Hawkins on piano – as the performance has this sharp, stark approach at times – jagged sounds from either instrument, almost as bursts of spontaneity – but constellated together to form a beautiful progression of music! The work is maybe a great illustration of that way that, taken as a snapshot, free improvisation might seem like nonsense – but taken as a whole, there's an intrinsic logic that really holds together the creative magic between two very imaginative performers like this duo. Reid maybe has more of an edge than usual, and Hawkins' work on piano really lives up to the best legacy of the Intakt label – on titles that include "If Becomes Is", "Albert Ayler", "A Guess That Deepens", "Shards & Constellations", "Danced Together", and "Strange Familiar". ~ Dusty Groove

Daniel Haaksman & Others - Black Atlantica Edits

A fantastic collection of cross-cultural grooves from Daniel Haaksman – the man who first raised our ears with his excellent Rio Baile Funk Favela Booty Beats compilations – then kept on giving us great music during all the years in between! This set has Haaksman providing his own edits of tracks that have a fair bit of global elements in the mix – contemporary club, but rife with acoustic, organic sound styles – which are further expanded by Daniel in his thoughtful edits throughout the entire set! There's plenty here for the dancefloor, but also a deeper cultural mission at hand – on tracks that include Haacksman edits of "Akabongi" by Soul Brothers, "Vamos Farrear" by Pinduca, "Morbiyassa" by Kaba Blon, "Cazukuta" by DJ Havaiana, "Sunny Crypt" by Francis Bebey, "Me Gritaron Negra" by Victoria Santa Cruz, "Dissan Na M'Bera" by Super Mama Djombo, and "Black September" by Master Chivero. ~ Dusty Groove


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