This is one of many delightful moments from 2018 : Dimitrije Vasiljevic is a soft spoken man, yet his story is big. Born in Serbia and trained in the Soviet classical music system, Dimitrije fell in love with the music of New Orleans and of course, it changed his path as he followed his heart (and ears) to the USA. Dimi is currently a music professor at Xavier University in Louisiana, and his 2018 album - Accidental Nomad - tells the story in instrumental form of his journey as he reflects on the path that makes so much sense to him (and us), but is truly difficult for others to understand. And the music! A carefully woven tapestry that blends his classical training, his understanding of odd meters in the Serbian style, and his finely tuned ear for American Jazz. Accidental Nomad is like an easy chair, a spot where you feel at home while reflecting on the day’s journey. Bravo.
2018 Countdown | Alex Conde
2018 marked he launch of Uprising Music NYC, an artist advocacy group and record label headed up by family and friends of Mr. Eddie Palmieri. With a solid community of artists in Latin Jazz and beyond, Uprising brings a wide roster of talent to the world. First up: Mr. Alex Conde, a pedigreed Spanish Flamenco and Jazz pianist who seeks to merge the elements of Flamenco, Afro-Cuban, and American Jazz forms. His new album, Origins, features Luques Curtis, Marcus Gilmore, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, and more, and it is a delicate expression of his vision, conjuring images of a time past with a subtle dramatic edge. Origins sets the tone for the quality we can expect from Uprising Music - stay tuned.
2018 Countdown | Paul Beaubrun
Ayibobo. Blessings. Raised in Haiti in the family of the great Boukman Eksperyans, Paul Beaubrun is a shining light and an ambassador of positive energy to the world. His 2018 release is titled Ayibobo, and on this holiday we are extremely grateful for the man and his music. Having fled his native land, Paul established himself in New York and began his musical career. Along the path he has performed and collaborated with many, including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jackson Browne, Arcade Fire, Brad Paisley, and Sheryl Crow. You get the picture, this is a man who connects with people through music and love, transcending the concept of style or genre. Ayibobo brings Paul’s Haitian Mizik Rasin roots and his love of the blues together in a fresh and cohesive way. Life on Earth is filled with struggle, yet gratitude for what we do have, and for each other, is the way. Ayibobo.
2018 Countdown | Yeni Nostalji
Yeni Nostalji means ‘New Nostalgia’, and the music is exactly that. Songwriter and vocalist Christina Marie Gleixner hails from Virginia and credits Leonard Cohen, Morissey, and Dolly Parton as influences, yet her music sounds like none of those. Christina learned the Turkish language and chose to write and sing in that language because it felt familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The result is on of our top picks from 2018 - the self titled debut from Yeni Nostalji, a beautiful blend of cultures and styles that stays with you. Our favorite track is Olumsuz - we don’t know what it means, but we know how it feels. Know what I mean?