From Onde Music in France comes the new album from Paris based singer/songwriter Yasmine Kyd. Already in heavy rotation with enthusiastic support from UK and European publications, Showtime clearly shows Kyd’s full understanding of the roots of Jazz, Hip=Hop, and Soul. The album is both personal and worldly, as Yasmine tells stories with her songs; one of the challenges of life and the need to embrace them with optimism, another about a young gymnast and the emotions of practice. Yasmine Kyd is a storyteller, with soul.
2018 Countdown | Whose Hat Is This
Rad X Rad: Bright Dog Red reviews Whose Hat Is This?
From silence comes joyful madness. Seemingly from nothing, Whose Hat is This? creates intensely alluring barrages of sound, replete with soloing, wicked grooves, spontaneous riffs, and lyrical wordsmithing. This recording, marked by striking musicianship, deft ensemble play, and sharp wit, reflects the status of the individual members of Whose Hat is This? some of the most distinct voices in contemporary improvised rock and jazz. Whose Hat is This? features bassist Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, TTB), saxophonist Kebbi Williams (Outkast), and drummers JJ Johnson (John Mayer) and Tyler "Falcon" Greenwell (Col. Bruce Hampton). We couldn’t stop spinning this one, thinking we had indeed found kindred spirits in Whose Hat is This?.
(Joe Pignato, Bright Dog Red)
2018 Countdown | Troker
Once again Ropeadope Sur brings the finest, and this band is no exception. Troker hails from Guadalajara and counts early Ropeadope artists DJ Logic and John Medeski as influences that started their band. The create a powerful groove and weave in elements of fusion, rock, and traditional Mexican mariachi. Troker’s sound travels between the sublime and dangerous, all in seconds, giving you the feel of reckless abandon and comfort in the groove. Their new album, Imperfecto, takes you on a journey inside the mind and outside the real world.
2018 Countdown | Robi Botos
Leaving his native home of Hungary and entering Canada, It was not long before Robi Botos was in the tutelage of the great Oscar Peterson. And it was not long after that Mr. Peterson congratulated him on his chops but urged him to speak in his own voice rather than emulate the greats. And so he did, finding critical acclaim as one of the most diverse multi instrumentalists of his generation, winning many awards including a JUNO. A vocal advocate of his heritage among the Romani, Robi continues to include the style of Romani music in his playing and compositions. 2018 marked the worldwide release of Old Soul, with his core band Seamus Blake, Larnell Lewis, and Mike Downes along with special guests Lionel Loueke, Ingrid Jensen, and Cory Henry. Listen in on the full Robi Botos story on The Station Tapes by 21Soul.