Tag Archives: jazz

AM & SHAWN LEE – CELESTIAL ELECTRIC (Psychedelic/Funk – US/UK)

12/06/2012 admin Leave a comment

AM & Shawn Lee is a collaboration between LA-based indie-pop auteur AM and London-based groovemaster Lee, who pooled their talents to create a unique brand of jazzy electrofunk. For their debut album, Celestial Electric, AM and Lee worked from their respective hometowns, trading ideas and tracks via email. Combining a broad array of influences, their heartfelt, warmly melodic soundscapes underline the artists’ love of vintage genres, encompassing soul, funk, jazz, Brazilian tropicalia and more.

The pair are currently putting the finishing touches on their new album, which should hit the stores before summer.To help fund the project, they are asking their fans to pitch in by pre-order the album on PledgeMusic.com. It goes without saying that all “pledgers” will exclusive perks and receive the album before everyone else… For the time being, why don’t you check out a couple of cool remixes from the duo’s debut?

AM & Shawn Lee - Somebody Like You (Fort Knox Five Remix)

AM & Shawn Lee - Promises Are Never Far From Lies (Rob Garza Remix)

Connect with AM & Shawn Lee on Facebook or check out their official site. Buy their music on BandCamp or

Electronica, France, Funk, Hip Hop

C2C – DOWN THE ROAD (Jazz/HipHop – France)

12/04/2012 admin 1 Comment

C2C is a French turntable act helmed by 20Syl, Greem, Atom and Pfel. Active since 1998, the combo is part of an emerging movement called “scratch music” (or turntablism), where each member uses his turntable as an instrument, recreating in turn drums or bass, scratching a riff of guitar or adding some sax…

C2C - F·U·Y·A

After winning the Disco Mix Club championship four times in a row from 2003 to 2006, C2C decided to expand into original music production. What you will hear below is the title track from their five-track EP Down The Road, released last January.

C2C may not be a household name yet but their unique mix of hip hop, jazz and electronica has enough oomph to woo electro music enthusiasts the world over. Check out their tribute to Louis Armstrong, a fully scratched up rendition of “Mack the Knife”.

C2C - Mack The Knife (Tribute To Louis Armstrong)

For more music, info and tour dates (France, Belgium and Switzerland in the next few months), find C2C on MySpace or Facebook. Buy the music on

Electronica, Hip Hop, Lounge

THE CANCEL – REPLY FROM SPACE (HipHop – Ukraine)

08/02/2012 admin 2 Comments

Instrumental hip hop duo The Cancel is the fruit of a collaboration between Andrei Zelenskii and Dmitrii Fedusiv, two Ukrainian musicians with a common passion for jazz music and old vinyls. Their music finds its roots in the works of jazz maestros such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis passed through the filter of modern electronica-influenced hip hop (think Ninja Tune or Stones Throw).

The Cancel - Summer Tape

After a very well received debut LP released last year, The Cancel are back with Reply From Space, a very strong second offering for the young duo. With its effortless combination of live drums, samples and layered synths, this record is a delicious collection of low-key instrumental pieces that blurs the borders between jazz, electronica and hip hop.

The Cancel - Street Art (Bonus Track)

Download the album on BandCamp. Say hi on Facebook!

Funk, Hip Hop

RAASHAN AHMAD – FOR WHAT YOU'VE LOST (HipHop/Soul/Jazz – US)

21/07/2011 admin 2 Comments

Bay Area rapper Raashan Ahmad dropped his last album, For What You’ve Lost, at the end of last year but it was largely overlooked by mainstream media, ‎ which is a real shame considering that this kind jazzy hip-hop album is pretty hard to come by. Rasshan’s flow is as smooth and effortless as ever and there are some solid tracks here, as evidenced by the second single taken from the album “Pain On Black”.

Raashan Ahmad - Pain On Black

Originally from Pasadena, Raashan Ahmad has been on the grind since his first release as one of the lead M.C.s in the Boston formed group Mission, who released a self titled album in 1999. He’s also the front man for San Francisco live hip-hop group Crown City Rockers who have released two albums so far: Earthtones in 2004 and The Day After Forever in 2009.

In 2008 Ahmad made his solo debut with The Push, thirteen tracks of soulful hip hop featuring production from DJ Vadim, Headnodic (of Crown City Rockers/Mighty Underdogs), Stro the 89th Key (of The Procussions), Descry and more. With his reputation growing, Raashan then released his first solo album The Push which solidified his place as one the most innovative and versatile MC’s to look out for.

Raashan Ahmad - If I

Now Raashan last album might be his best material to date. For What You’ve Lost is a heavily collaborative musical journey sure to give his fans what they’ve been waiting for. This album is rooted in classic hip hop tradition as well as jazz, soul and funk while continuing to push musical boundaries. Guest appearances ranging from new soul heroes like Aloe Blacc and Noelle Scaggs to hip hop veterans like Gift of Gab and Count Bass D make this album diverse and colourful. This new album truly shows Raashan’s evolution and growth.

For more info, check out Raashan Ahmad’s official site, blog or MySpace. Buy his music on

France, Funk

CHLORINE FREE – START FRESH (Jazz/Funk – France)

24/06/2011 admin Leave a comment

First heard on Rubin Steiner’s compilations, French collective Chlorine Free breathe new life into Jazz Fusion. With their creative mix of Jazz, Funk and elements of electronica, they could really be onto something.

Inspired by classics of Jazz music but also by a myriad other genres, the seven artists who make up the combo’s current line-up are as comfortable in the studio as they are on stage, jamming and experimenting. When performing live, Chlorine Free is a feast for the ears and for the eye: with two keyboardists (Rhodes and Clavinet), drum-bass, trombone, flute and a live DJ, this is hardly a common line-up. Together they create some powerful grooves and deconstruct the norms of Jazz, Funk, Electro, and everything in between.

No wonder highly-respected hip hop artist Raashan Ahmad happily accepted their invitation to be featured on Start Fresh, the band’s debut EP, released last May on DuNose Records. The SF-based rapper/poet contributes vocals to Chlorine Free’s highly addictive funky number “D’fish”, which is already getting some serious airplay on French avant-guarde Radio Nova.

Chlorine Free – D’fish (feat. Raashan Ahmad)

If you’re interested in listening to more tunes by Chlorine Free, visit the band’s official MySpace. You can purchase Start Fresh on

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