I first ran across the pop-folk duo, Bella Ruse, about a year ago on Jamendo.com where I fell in love with singer Kay Gillette’s quirky pop styling. Jamendo, if you’ve been following along, is a source for music released under one of several Creative Commons licenses (free to download and listen to-some restrictions apply). Complicated Rhythm is from their 2011, more traditionally released, full-length, Kuhzoo, which you can purchase from their web site. You can also find them on MySpace and Facebook. (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Read MoreNoted for his blending of middle eastern sounds, soul and jazz, Yusef Lateef is at his grooviest, with Nubian Lady. This track is by no-means new. Released on the vinyl LP Gentle Giant back in the early 70’s, it translates perfectly into 2012, where electronic chill meets ambient grooves. I cannot find a source for the CD version of Gentle Giant, which had at one time been re-released by Rhino. If you can find one, please send it to me, as I’d love to…
Read MoreSteeped in a mysterious story that lies just beneath the surface, Black Hills Gold from the band Dolorean’s 2011 release The Unfazed, insinuates a deep loss and in some ways, a new beginning. Singer and guitarist, Al James, paints the story with broad strokes, rather than details, and lets the listener decide how best to interpret. That said, the story is decidedly dark. This video, captures the darkness in it’s black and white rendering. As the story resolves in the end,…
Read More2010’s release by the band, Everest, On Approach, included this great song, Let Go. It is plaintive and driven with a relentless beat, syncopated melody and belies a story just beneath the surface. Everest is currently working on completing their new album, which should be out later this Spring. You can find a boat-load of information on Everest simply by visiting their web-site. There you will find links to all the usual suspects, (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.). If you haven’t heard of Everest, take time…
Read MoreNote: Video no longer exists. My thanks to fellow blogger, follower and bass player, Nicholas Krolak for getting me to peruse his site and finding this awesome full-on Jazz cover of House of the Rising Sun by jazz troupe Kensal Road. Would that all great songs had a great video to go with it, but in this case it is simply a static picture of the album jacket. Still, it is so worthy of a re-blog, that I wanted to include it. here. Tenor Sax work is from the expressive, Art Themen with rhythmical bass line provided by Nicholas himself. On the Piano…
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