Oh well hello there friends! We are sooooooo excited because one of our fav new artists, Jose James, is about to release his second body of work, Blackmagic, next Monday on Brownswood Recordings. It’s been about a year since his last release “The Dreamer” - an amazing piece of work stitching together hiphop, jazz and soul into a full-bodied musical blanket of lovin!
The Blackmagic album features the glitchy yet soulful stylings of producer Flying Lotus as well as collabs with Taylor McFerrin, Moodyman and Dj Mitsu The Beats. To gather a full perspective on what Jose James is all about please watch this lovely video from our friends over at Friends We Love.
The one man show known as Taylor McFerrin builds songs from scratch with his ambitious solo project. Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, samples, vocals and beatboxing are meshed together in his Brooklyn bedroom studio as Taylor builds from his roots in ‘60s soul to his vision of future hip-hop. Throw Dego McFarlane, London-based dj and producer and founding member of both 4 Hero and Silhouette Brown in the mix and you have an intense musical conversation. Check it as Taylor jumps into Dego’s musical mind to get some insight on past present and the future.
Hello lovelies! Hope all is well. Just came across this sweet Early Risers preview from Brooklyn-based producer/beat-boxer/dj/cool dude, Taylor McFerrin (yes his Dad is Bobby McFerrin). Saw him a couple years ago in Miami at the Winter Music Conference during his one-man show performance on a rooftop at sunset and have been hooked since.
Wow this “Done For” track, one of the 3 tracks he is previewing just might have you in a little dubsteppy, glitchy-beat heavy+ all atmospheric and love-y mind-state. Keep your ears open for the fresh collab with RYAT, Philly-based producer/singer/instrumentalist with a unique, Bjork-esque sound. Preview his set on soundcloud.
For good measure check out a really nice Sao Paulo remix he did for one of our favorite Cinematic Orchestra jams, “Child Song”, Amp Fiddler + Corrine Baily Rae remix for “If I Don’t” AND to top it off Mr. McFerrin worked out the “Love Conversation” jam feat/ Jordana DeLovely for Jose James’ Blackmagic album. DANG!
Oooooh and a piece from the NY Post Mr. McFerrin did right before Obama was elected:
Taylor McFerrin is redefining the one-man show. Combining his skills as a producer and performer, Taylor is making music heads around the world take notice as he seamlessly builds songs from scratch with his ambitious solo project. Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, samples, vocals and beatboxing are meshed together in his Brooklyn bedroom studio as Taylor builds from his roots in ‘60s soul to his vision of future hip-hop.
I had the pleasure of meeting Joe Kay recently at Andre Power’s Art In The Park event in San Diego. I knew once I walked into the spot and a Vinia Mojica jawn filled my ears, I was in good hands with Mr. Kay. One facebook exchange lead to anohter and next thing I knew, there was an epic mix sitting in my inbox this morning from birthday boy Joe for minty! Now to share with all of you. It’s rad. Download it. Do it.
01. M_Slago - Downtown 02. Twizz - Rememberlude ft. PM 03. Hazeem - So Fly 04. Tall Black Guy - Rock the Stage (Rock With You) 05. Dr. Dre - The Message (Instrumental) 06. B. Lewis - Day 4: First of Me ft. Mar 07. Alicia Keys - Feeling U, Feeling Me (Freddie Joachim Remix) 08. Bluntmosphere - Pillow Factory 09. Beat-Maker-Beat - 3000 10. Tall Black Guy - Stay With me (Lady of My Life) 11. SABeats - Journey to Space 12. Full Crate - Never Never 13. Shlohmo -Tomato Smash 14. eLAn & Filthy Ingredients - Swaziland Delicacy 15. Taylor McFerrin - Georgia 16. Dibiase - Alright 17. FS Green - Monoshow 18. Hazeem - Mercury Wisdom 19. Knxwledge - Dirteeknees 20. Dibiase - Abstract 21. Beat-Maker-Beat - Soul Good 22. Eric Lau - Bendy 23. Devonwho - Slapshot 24. Kyle Hall - Kaychunk 25. Sepalcure - Down 26. Surra - Alethia
The New Zealand-based Electric Wire Hustle recently made their U.S. debut in Los Angeles. There was no doubt that they would be amazing live and I’m very excited to report that they absolutely demolished any and every expectation I had. The show was electric, funky and just an old fashioned good time.
Getting things started off properly Taylor Mcferrin and an amazing drummer he brought along set it off with some rad beatboxing/Rhodes keys/drum breaks and experimental glory. Immediately after Mr. Mcferrin, Master Blazter (Dam Funk, J1 THE DEER & Computer Jay) proceeded to serve up the funk on a gold platter with some of the best LA energy ever getting everyone nice and hyped up for Electric Wire Hustle.
Prior to EWH’s set, I was able to step outside with them and get to know the trio a bit better. Watch below as they share their vast influences, views on public policy, what they look forward to, who they’d like to collaborate with, and Mara TK’s cooking specialties!
Super special thank you’s to Aaron Byrd and Hayley Digwall for coordination and support, Anthony Valadez for the use of his camera when both of my recording devices failed, Aaron Gleen from BeatsNcrates for filming and SefDiggy & Greg The Dude for their super sweet expert assistance in post-production. Much love to all who were in attendance and to those who have supported amazing, quality through their creative endeavors. -J. Marie
We’ve been following Taylor McFerrin for some time and most recently we raved about the raw jam session with him and the lovely Ryat. Excited to share the video of Taylor’s first single “Place In my Heart” released on the Brainfeeder imprint. What a beautifully captured piece by Simon Benjamin. Enjoy
Our favorite Philly Radio show, Eavesdrop Radio, does it again with an amazing broken beat throwback episode. This is a nice reminder of the genre - that some of us often forget but love nevertheless. Thanks to Junior and Lil’ Dave for always keeping it fresh.
New Sector Movements - The Sun ft. Dwele Eska’s World - Dream Saftey Mark de Clive Lowe - Relax Unwind Mark Force - 40 Days/40 Nights Beatless - Life Mirrors (Opaque Remix) Reel People - Spiritual (Seiji Remix) King Britt & Lady Alma - Give it all you got (Domu Rmix) MM BLack ft. Roy Ayers - 2000 Black 4hero - Natures Plan Afronaut feat Son de Batey - Carnival Afronaut feat Son de Batey - Golpe Tuyo Calinda Wale Oyejide - Cooba (Daz-I-Kue Edit) Dom um Romao - Lake of Perseverance (Seiji remix) Tate’s Place ft. Julie Dexter - Burning (Jazzanova Remix) Susumu Yokota - Can Heaven Ever be Like This (Bugz in the Attic Rmix) Yukihiro Fukutomi feat. Carl Hancock Rux - I am Quango - Frantic (Boogie Rework) IG Culture - DJ Power DKD - Future Rage Mpho Skeef - Whatcha Waitin’ For Phil Asher - Namby It Ain’t (I Am Sorry) Freedom Soundz - Feelings Daz-I-Kue & Exile - Mellon Bounce Ty - Wait a Minute (Dwele Remix) Jeremy Ellis - Lotus Bloom Pavel Kostriuck and Guest - Brand New Day Don Ray feat Lady Alma - Give A Little (Dubline remix) Taylor McFerrin - Broken Vibes (Isol8 remix) Bugz in the Attic - Once Twice Karizma - ICU Agent K - Feed the Cat
José James has masterfully combined jazz, hip hop, soul and freestyle elements into his music, has propelled some of the most epic musical projects of the past few years and is poised to elevate genre-blending consciousness for many years to come. From covering Coltrane’s “Equinox”- which got the attention of worldwide musical tastemaker Gilles Peterson who later put out his first album, to re-inventing Freestyle Fellowship’s “Park Bench People”José James has carved a very special and much needed niche into musical culture worldwide.
Prior to José’s recent Los Angeles show, we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with him to touch base and get a more in-depth look at how he’s gotten to where he is, what this next steps will be and who he’s collaborating with musically, spiritually and wholeheartedly to get there. We rapped about his Panamanian percussive influence from his father, tried to pinpoint why experimental music is more abundant overseas as well as where he’s had some of his most memorable shows.
Watch out for José James + Taylor McFerrin in Jan 2012 with a Japan tour slated and then up next, José’s new album - set to drop in early 2012.
It was a pleasure and honor to chat with José and we are deeply grateful for his music and many infinite blessings he’s shared with us.
Preview Minty posts on José here, here, here and here. Yeah, we ♥ him.
KCRW: Aaron Byrd, Anthony Valadez, Jeremy Sole @ Zanzibar
We’ve been sifting through 2012’s stand-out music, events, mixes and much more and wanted to call out some amazing contributions we’ve seen both on and offline.
It’s been an epic year of infinite blessings shared worldwide and it’s most definitely our pleasure [and mission] to share with you some of the things we find. We appreciate the support from all of you wholeheartedly and wish you health, happiness and creative energy in 2012.
