It is really, really, really hard to categorize UK songstress Bev Lee Harling. She is one part avant-garde, one part 20’s or 30’s jazz singer, one part alternative pop queen, and two parts musical history lesson. Stick all of that in a blender, open the lid, fire it up on full and see what element hits you the hardest. That is evident on Buy Me from the May 2012 long-player, Barefoot In Your Kitchen. Bev Lee Harling has been making crazy, yet…
Read MoreThe Apples are jazz, hip-hop, turntable, ska fusion from Israel, and the sound is simply awesome! Here on their tribute to Amy Winehouse (a cover of You Know I’m No Good) shortly after Amy’s death in 2011, you can feel the emotion and the performance vibe. The band must be something to see live. The Apples released their latest long-player, Fly On It, in August 2012. You can find more information on The Apples by visiting their web site, which has social…
Read MoreWarrior Song is instantly pleasing, powerful and rich. Norwegian transplanted New York based Hildegunn Gjedrem has everything that you could want in a jazz vocalist, and she isn’t hard to look at either. While this is most certainly vocal jazz, it is very accessible and totally pleasing to the ear. You can find out more information on Hildegunn Gjedrem by visiting her web site. (social links included). You can purchase a digital copy of the long-player Share Your Secret on her bandcamp site…
Read MoreDe Phazz is a delightful combination of jazz, hip-hop, r&B, soul and pop. The music is layered with strings, scratches and found sounds. The end result is beautiful and intriguing. Here on No Jive from the 1997 long-player Detunized Gravity, everything is evident. The brainchild of German producer Pit Baumgartner, the lineup of artists that appear on De Phazz offerings has changed from CD to CD, with some notable regulars given frequent billing. While this track dates back to 1997, the band continues to…
Read MoreCombine one part Americana and four parts fun, and you’ll end up with Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. Here from their 2011 long-player Middle of Everywhere, the band smokes out a foot-stompin’ So Long Honeybee, Goodbye which may be somewhat reminiscent of Squirrel Nut Zippers. It’s a blend of 1920’s style jazz and ragtime and it simply works. The band is from the St. Louis Missouri area in the US but has made itself…
Read More