Gotan Project

Gotan Project
Picture: http://www.gotanproject.com/

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying this very special time of year. I wish you and yours the very best of the season! However, the Jazz Essentials Spotlight is taking no holidays. 

This week we're going to listen to some Electrotango, its just like it sounds; tango music with a strong modern electronic influence. The group is based in Paris but its members come from all over the world, one member is from Argentina, another from Switzerland. Their name came from a reversal of syllables, reversing Tan-Go, you get Go-Tan ("Gotan Project", last.fm).

 Their music has been featured in several films and television shows. For instance, "Santa Maria" and "Diferente" were both heard in the movie Knight and Day which starred Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, "El Capitalismo Foraneo" was featured in Ocean's Twelve ("Gotan Project," Wikipedia).

LINKS:
"Santa Maria":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S98-BIpzZuk 
"Diferente": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W5S-JqQ5SQ
"Vuelvo Al Sur": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHcDIs8hwhU
"El Capitalismo Foraneo" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feMJx8ldhbQ

REFERENCES:  
"Gotan Project." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotan_Project

"Gotan Project." last.fm Retrieved from: http://www.last.fm/music/Gotan+Project

Nostalgia 77

Ben Ladmin (Nostalgia 77)
Photo: http://nostalgia77.bandcamp.com/

Ben Ladmin, known to the world as Nostalgia 77 describes his sound as "a combination of soul and jazz composition with computer based production techniques."  His background in producing hip hop beats through sampling the jazz that he loved inspired Ladmin to make his own jazz. Experimenting with funk, soul and hip hop, Nostalgia 77's 2007 album "Everything Under The Sun" won the Jazz Album of The Year award at the BBC Worldwide Awards. Nostalgia 77 has received much acclaim for partnering with singer-songwriter Josa Peit, which introduced folk and blues into Nostalgia's sound.

Ladmin has also produced albums for the likes of Jamie Cullum and singer-songwriter Lizzy Parks. 

LINKS:
Covering The White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNpidAAMQSo

Featuring Josa Peit, "Sleepwalker": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSidRczWNpU

"Quiet Dawn": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0GJlVfEEyo

REFERENCES:
"Nostalgia 77." Retrieved from: http://www.futureboogie.com/artists/nostalgia-77/

Jazz Liberatorz

Jazz Liberatorz
Photo: cluboid.com

DJ Damage, Dusty and Madhi met and formed the Jazz Liberatorz via DJ Damage's radio show in 1999. Since then, the jazz rap group has collaborated with the likes of Mos Def and Fatlip. 








Their music makes light of their love for classic jazz. This is especially notable on their 2008 album, Clin d'oeil, in particular the title track:
"Quincy Jones, McCoy Tyner, Grant Green
Wes Montgomery, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis
Eric Gale, Pharoah Sanders, Freddie Hubbbard
Billy Higgins, Jimmy Smith, Wayne Shorter
Ahmad Jamal, Thelonius Monk – all big influences
For what it is that we do
And what it is that we are
As we take our stance in music"

 LINKS:
Interview with the band: https://www.cluboid.com/artist/jazz-liberatorz/
 "Clin d'oeil": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PemH6O-qr-k
"Blue Avenue": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFs03oAx9ME
"Ease My Mind": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u7PDGzH48

REFERENCES:
"Jazz Liberatorz-DJ & Artists" Retrieved from: https://www.cluboid.com/artist/jazz-liberatorz/
"Jazz Liberatorz." last.fm Retrieved from: http://www.last.fm/music/Jazz+Liberatorz?ac=Jazz%20Liberatorz

Your thoughts

Hey, it's Karim Mosna. I'm looking for your thoughts on Jazz Essentials as we move into a new year. Can you please fill out a quick survey, it should only take a few minutes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks for listening and all the best! Here's the link: https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/qcxncv 

Tok Tok Tok

Photo:http://www.toktoktok.de/e/gallery.html

Their music is most commonly described as "acoustic soul," but the jazz flavour and influence is undeniably in their music as they strive to pair a beautiful melody with groove. They're perhaps best known for their take on Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side." The band broke up last year as lyricist, Tokunbo Akinro, and composer Morten Klein wanted to pursue solo projects. Their album "About" won the French "grand prix SACEM for singing and composition" as well as the  "German Jazz Award."











LINKS:
"Walk On The Wild Side" (Lou Reed Cover): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLeqnPJqmhI
"Get Away": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYNYT2Y47Ko
"I Wish" (Stevie Wonder Cover): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFGSomlM1cU


REFERENCES:
"Tok Tok Tok" Retrieved from: http://www.last.fm/music/Tok+Tok+Tok