Jawanza Kobie’s Weekly Wednesday Jazz Playlist February 1, 2023
Philippe Saisse is a French jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and arranger. He was born in Marseille and raised in Paris. After studying at the Conservatoire de Paris he won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. He was half of the duo Doppelganger with Randy Fredrix; a video for their song "Communication Breakdown" was added to MTV's playlist in 1985. He became the protégé of Gary Burton and debuted on Al Di Meola's Splendido Hotel. He also worked with Nile Rodgers and Felicia Collins in the album Outloud and wrote for David Sanborn. He has also worked in the alternative rock, jazz fusion and rock world for David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Gato Barbieri, Paul King, and The Rolling Stones. Here is one of his most recent releases ‘Lost Words’
Emmet Harley Cohen (born May 25, 1990 in Miami, Florida) is an American pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Cohen received a Bachelor of Music from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in 2012 and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music in 2014.[ Cohen is primarily known for his work in jazz, although he also studied European art music (classical music) extensively earlier in his career, and this influence is apparent in his technique, occasional improvisational "quotes," and general technical mastery of the keyboard.[7] He has performed with Christian McBride, Herlin Riley, Brian Lynch, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, and George Coleman. Emmet regularly post videos of his collaborations recorded in his apartment and has a growing following. This is his rendititon on the jazz standard ‘If This Isn’t Love’
Samara Joy McLendon, known professionally as Samara Joy, is an American jazz singer. She won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2019 and was named Best New Artist by Jazz Times for 2021. Her father, a bass player who has toured with gospel singer/songwriter/producer Andraé Crouch, introduced her to gospel greats like The Clark Sisters, and soul and Motown were also a big presence in her home. Jazz Times named her Best New Artist for 2021. She earned two Grammy Award nominations in 2022, for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album for Linger Awhile. Her bookings for winter 2022 include singing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on its winter 2022 Big Band Holidays tour.
Jazzbois is a Budapest based Jazz/Hiphop Trio. Their debut album “Jazzbois Goes Blunt” had a strong impact on both the jazz and hip-hop scene, creating a unique psychedelic flavored fusion that shacked the bones of jazz masters and beat lovers alike. As complete newcomers into the scene they were recognized by many key figures in the industry, receiving support from Joe Kay (Soulection), landed on multiple editorial playlists on Spotify & Apple Music, they got spinned on worldwide.fm and even in the office of the legendary jazz label – Brownswood Records. This is a single from their recent release ‘Reminisce’
Jakob Bro (born April 11, 1978) is a Danish guitarist and composer. Bro leads a trio with Joey Baron and Thomas Morgan. In 2016 and 2013 Bro received The Carl Prize Jazz Composer of the Year[3] for the albums Gefion and Bro/Knak. From 2003–2016 he received six Danish Music Awards: three for Danish Jazz Album of the Year (Gefion, Balladeering[4] and Sidetracked), two for Danish Crossover Album of the Year (Bro/Knak and Sidetracked) and one for New Danish Jazz Artist of the Year (for the album Beautiful Day[6]). This is a recent release of his ‘Song To An Old Friend’
GoGo Penguin are an English band from Manchester, England, featuring pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott. The band's music features break-beats, minimalist piano melodies, powerful basslines, drums inspired from electronica and anthemic riffs. They compose and perform as a unit. Their music incorporates elements of electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock and classical music. In 2015, GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records (France). Their album Man Made Object was released in 2016; the following album, A Humdrum Star, was released on 9 February 2018. An eponymously named album was released on 5 June 2020. ‘Glimmerings’ is a cut from their recent release.
Ezra Collective is a British jazz quintet composed of drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso, bassist TJ Koleoso, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, and tenor saxophonist James Mollison. The group fuses elements of afro-beat, hip-hop and soul, and frequently collaborates with fellow London-based jazz musicians such as Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. The members of Ezra met at the jazz programme Tomorrow's Warriors, run by Gary Crosby. The band's 2019 instrumental single "Quest for Coin" was premiered as a "Hottest Record in The World" on Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1. This is ‘Life Goes On’ released five months ago.
I hope you enjoy
JK