Backwater country blues performed with a weathered sophistication that makes it all the more tempting. Think Billie Holiday in overalls.
Tortoise
Tortoise’s latest track cuts to the chase with a tight, driving dose of spacial jazz. While you still won’t hear them on commercial alternative radio anytime soon, it’s as close to a “single” as you’ll ever get from these cats.
Variable Unit
Sinewy, smokey grooves bob and weave to Azeem’s verbal left-right combos. Major league hip hop at home in the underground.
Intuit
German duo enlist flamboyant Brazilian vocalists to add their smooth touch to this shimmering, summery jazz track.
Ralph Carney
The easy explanation: he’s smoking something.
Smokey and Miho
Perennial guest vocalist Miho Hatori finds her most natural fit yet, resurrecting ’60s Brazilian samba and bossa nova with all-star session man Smokey Hormel (Beck, Tom Waits).
Heiruspecs
Not rap, not jazz, not spoken word — at least not as you know it. Refreshingly tight live sessions that manage to reference Run-DMC and Mother Goose in the same verse with only a slight smirk.
Dave Douglas
Douglas has played with some crazy kids (John Zorn, Cibo Matto, and Sean Lennon) and covered Rufus Wainwright. These remixes have a splash of electronic vermouth with a foundation of gin jazz and a little speed.
David Axelrod
Beats ‘n’ grooves originator. It’s to the point where he’s sampling himself.
Ray Barbee
Mr. Barbee, a pro skater, makes music like he rides his skateboard: he finds his groove and gets all improv and jazzy on you.