Jungle By Night

Progressive upbeat afrobeat/groove jazz from Amsterdam. Lots of flavor and funk. Into their energy and refreshing innovations. Certainly check out their blog, it’s a great read about their journey as a band and you get a real sense of their love for music. Here’s the song that got me hooked (I stumbled upon it while “researching” E.T. – as in the extra-terrestrial – … when you have kids, you end up reading about the most random shit). Listen up to their new album – you’ll dig it, hard. Swear.

The Greg Foat Group

Get your psychedelic groove mind on.  Yeah … you did just watch and hear that. Check out Dark Is The Sun for more funky electronic jazz psychedelia. Worth it. He’ll take you there. Crazy instrumentation.

Nicola Conte

Nicola Conte Presents Viagem 3 is the perfect collection of sounds for the summer. His third installment digs deeper into 60-70’s samba/bossa nova movement for a collection of cooled out tracks. And isn’t that album cover amazing?  A decidedly jazz sound moves through some of these Brazilian gems.  Nicola Conte continues to fuel my love for him. From his personal music to the compilations he creates … the soundtrack to evening cocktails.

The Whitefield Brothers

So, I’ve been trying to put together a post about this band for, something like weeks now. I think I’ve been toiling over it so long because I really really love this album and wanted to write some cosmic words about its greatness to inspire the masses to dig in and listen. Well, it didn’t happen. Instead …. I pondered and wrote notta. Idiot. I know.  So here goes … written stream of conscious style: My Love Affair with The Whitefield Brothers. Their album Earthology has been out for over a year and I’m just finding it, but, seriously, just glad I stumbled upon. It has become one of my absolute favorite things to groove to. It’s the perfect collective of world, funky, raw soul, afrobeat, hiphop, jazz, and groove. It’s got a real throwback sound, yet lots of fresh newness to it. Never have I come across this perfect of a blend of styles and past/present sounds.  The fact that these are German dudes still blows my mind. Ridiculously relevant. You owe it to yourself to listen up. The best thing I own right now.  You can check out some sample sounds here. So do it.

Belleruche

A mingling of jazz/hip hop/electronic/pop/lounge all pulled together by the most delicious soulful voice. “270 Stories” really rolls through many styles with many surprises. Reminds me much of Alice Russell. 

Groovin’ with Soul Square

Soul Square’s 2010 release Live & Uncut is a big blowout of everything – hip hop, soul, jazz. And within every category is old and new sounds. A fresh culmination of groove. The core of the band’s from France with lots of ad in people on vocals. Here’s a great sampler of the album: Smooth. You could get funky to it, right!? I did.

Hi-Fi video for Bella Vista Social Pub

This video is an amazing reenactment of some blue note album covers (originally designed by Reid Miles). Watch it.

I told you, highly amazing, right? Gorgeousness. For all the details on this project, and even more (tons) album cover eye candy – check out the article posted on Graphicology. It’s a great write up with oodles of details about the project.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Holy greatness-on-a-stick. The most delish combination of sounds. I can’t even begin to express my love affair with this man. I know this video is stale, as there’s nothing to watch … just listen. Roland Kirk Quartet’s “Three for Dizzy.” It is the communion of soul, funk, and jazz. Seriously, pause … listen. This dude has it going on … his catalog is tremendous, varied, and demands a listen.

The Herbaliser & Chicken Lips … best ‘ofs’ … do it up right

2 diverse and hot ‘best of’ releases. Both bring the funk, break it down, and de-liver. The Herbaliser’s Herbal Tonic is a full range of  sounds: hip hop, jazz, funk, beats and so on all wrapped up in a stone serious package.

Chicken Lips’ Show Your Shape while not as many classics, still holds it own. I mean I love their old school flavor. I feel like this group really gets passed over. This is a good chance to grab a full collection of sounds from them. They always end up on my mix tapes. A staple, no doubt.

Get on it people. Worthy of your time.

Tony Allen

Secret Agent delivers the perfect mix of afrobeat, jazz, and funk. Tony Allen is power in groove disguise.