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Forum nameThe Lesson
Topic subjectRE: "Modern" Jazz Recomendations
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=2899298&mesg_id=2899433
2899433, RE: "Modern" Jazz Recomendations
Posted by Af-1, Mon Sep-01-14 07:01 AM
Cool, my kind of post...

'The Dreamer' by Jose James, released in 2008.
He's now with Blue Note but his first 2 albums were released via Brownswood - he's gone on to do amazing things and release a further 4 albums since but it's his debut that I always cite as his masterpiece. Most people know 'Parkbench People' but if you haven't heard it, here's 'Winter Wind':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duPOs6WuRps

'Rising Sun' by Takuya Kuroda
This one's from this year, released by Blue Note. Kuroda's an amazing trumpeter live (especially as a part of Jose James's current band) and although it's a lovely listen, I think it could have featured a bit more energy throughout. Still very good though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mUymaxWmMw

Anything by Nicola Conte
And I mean "Anything you can get your hands on" - he's an Italian producer and guitarist who's been releasing albums since around 2000. It's kinda acid jazz with buckets of bossa nova thrown in. I think his best album is 'Love and Revolution' from 2011, but his jazziest would be 'Other Directions', again, which is excellent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP0X9ACylHU

'Heroes + Misfits' by pianist Kris Bowers
His album came out a few months ago on Concord. He plays with Jose James current band and is also all over the aforementioned 'Rising Sun' album. Some people felt this album was a bit "boring" but I really disagree and it's one of my favourites from this year. He's 24 years old and won the Thelonius Monk Piano Competition a few years ago so he has all the credentials. Casey Benjamin plays sax on the album too, Jose James guests but here's my standout song from lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUqsGx_L5mQ

'Circles' by Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (2013)
The band is fairly well-known but this album that came out last year begs peoples' attention - it's amazing!

'Offering for Anxious' by Diggs Duke (2013)
Diggs Duke is crazy talented - check out his Bandcamp page as he gives away lots of free downloads (definitely check for his Kimbra remix and his Herbie Hancock downloads there too). His album came out last year and as good as it is - my only complaint is it's crazy short - 10 songs at 25 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtE-IwkD4c8

'Hot Corner' by The Five Corners Quintet (2008)
Jazz from Helsinki, this is actually one of my favourite albums ever - completely reinvents old perspectives on jazz music and presents it for a new generation as still being completely innovative. It really is a great album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH1FwTPbeuk

......... Sorry, didn't expect my reply to be that long. Hopefully something of the above serves as some use though?