['How does this person fit my ideal?' versus 'Here's a unique person.']
Live from a solo bass concert in 2012, has a celestial atmosphere with melodic vocal inflections. I dream of having this kind of expression when I play guitar.
From Eclipse (1978). Sounds like a voice with similar inflections.
Mother Nature and BoatHouse: HANDZOFF
From SZNZ (2021). The self-professed ‘most dynamic hip-hop duo of all time’. I feel like the verses fill so much space that the breathing is dramatic. Massive sound, blast.
Fredy V & The Foundation: Your Own Way
From One Step (2021). Intro bassline that’s so dark! A perfect groove to accompany the body paint and photography.
BNegão & Os Seletores de Frequência’s: (Funk) Até O Caroço
From Enxugando Gelo (2004). Hip-hop and funk headbanger with a bad-ass guitar riff.
BaianaSystem: O Futuro não Demora (2019)
Various pop/dance rhythms from Brazil.
Shaolin Afronauts: Flight Of The Ancient (2011)
Afrojazz, wild honky saxophone solos, dorian modes, to which you can dance for 45 minutes straight.
Ilessi: Dama de Espadas (2020)
Complex, vital, emotional, and very not-weak-sauce: Dama de Espadas is a bold, rough and sassy blues in Portuguese; Oração pro Gil has onomatopoeic cantations over an African groove; the sort of hard rock vibe in Vivo ou Morto took me by surprise.
Imagine walking into a park and seeing a professional Brazilian guitarist sitting alone in a gazebo practicing his own complex jazz and classical compositions, in a pandemic, in a city where people don’t normally sit alone in parks and practice guitar. I'm grateful this musician shared his music (and let me listen with social distancing).
Jacob Collier: Moon River (a cappella, 2019)
Sublime celestial splendor sung by the chorus of a thousand stars. Not sure how I missed it but I think one cannot die before hearing this. I am still working my way through his in-depth hour-and-a-half music nerdery around the creation of this masterpiece.