Ellipse

So is it just me or does it seem like Imogen Heap wrote the song, "Aha" on the new Ellipse album just for Mia Michaels or Wade Robson? So sounds like a song they could do a bomb dance to. Just them though could pull it off. It reminds of something that woulda been on "The Nightmare Before Christmas" or "Ahhhhhh! Real Monsters". Awesome.

And let me just take another moment to say how awesome Imogen Heap is... the new album is freaking bomb. It starts out kinda slow for me because I don't really like the slow ballad like songs from her, I need something with a beat behind it and then plus her odd voice. I guess that means I like the "trip-hopdom" style from here. AWE SOME.

"The Fire" was also great. So enjoy the solo piano for the entire song. Canvas is good too. My recommendations:

Swoon
Tidal
Bad Body Double
Aha!
The Fire
Canvas

Conclusion: this chick is beyond great.

WTF iTunes?

So there are some songs that cost $1.29 and $1.49 now as opposed to the regular $.99. Not happy iTunes. It doesn't seem like that was the best business move to make man. Fifty cents doesn't seem like its a big difference, but it is. It sure did just prevent me from buying a song. And note, I am not saying I am going to do it, but don't be surprised if you see a raise in piracy again. NOT SMART man....

Can I Get Some Recognition?

I think it is so crazy that Dwele and Er Ro (Eric Roberson) do not get more play than they do. And when I say play, I mean radio play and or other forms of recognition? Both of these guys are very pure tones to their voices and I really enjoy. So I asked one of my friends why this might be, and he said because they are both boring.

Now I don't see them as boring. I see them as soothing. And I like the underbeats so I guess it is not boring for me. But I just don't understand why all music has to fit into some little category. I just feel like there is place in the market for both of these guys...and not the underground R&B market.

I just goes to show, you really gotta conform to whats good in the market or you will be cast as and peripheral character in the scheme of your given genre of music.

Man...If Only I Had Money

Real talk, I'd be at some music show every weekend. Well, I guess that would have to mean that I would be out of Texas huh? That is another reason I cannot stay here. Nobody cool in my preferred music genre ever comes here. I mean, Keiko Matsui came her last week, but her tickets were $60! I was sitting like 5 feet away from her and only paid $25 at Yoshi's. But my main point in this is, yeah I can see myself as one of those fixtures at the cities smooth jazz events. I just see it.

Jazz Cruises too. They be having some hardcore line ups. This one, has The Rippingtons, Jeff Kashiwa AND Paul Taylor. Freaking classic. The Capitol Jazz Cruise had Marcus Johnson, Ledisi, and Eric Darius among others. Crazy yo!

What Happened Guys?

I'm just saying. So I'm listening to music right now and I came across some Maxwell. Oh my goodness... ya'll better be glad this fool wasn't sexy when I was of age. Now he looks like some regular Joe Blow on the stage. But in his good years... there was no end to his sexy AND he could sing like no other. OH OH!

I'm tryna figure out what happened to D'Angelo too. He turned into a fat crackhead (I thought those two terms were mutually exclusive by the way). There is noone who can harmonize with themselves like D'Angelo could. Seriously, listen to his harmonies on Brown Sugar. It'll make you fall out.

I think both of them are coming out with a comeback album... I wonder how they will do know that neither of them are no longer "the sexyness". We'll I know I'd probably buy them... on Rhapsody at least.

Um, I Can't Even Complete A Complete Sentance

I just saw Keiko Matsui at Yoshi's and I am still mad emotional about it. That was the best concert I have ever been to... point blank. I'm sorry, it was.

Keiko Matsui is such a show(woman), and she has so much personality for a lady of such small stature. I mean seriously.

The concert started at 8:00pm but I got there at 5:30 to get my seat. Got almost a front row center seat in one of the circular booths so I was RIGHT THERE behind the piano to see the action. Oh my goodness. I still can't believe it.

If you have any like (it doesn't even have to be love) for jazz music and/or the piano, seeing Keiko Matsui live is a must. I can't even find the words to explain how good she is. All I can say is she tells a story with her music; and to hear her on CD and see her in concert is a whole nother thing.

AND she's gonna be in Austin in October, hellsa going back to see her. OH MY GOSH!

KEIKO MATSUI KILLED IT SO HARD TONIGHT THAT I AM SPEECHLESS...which doesn't happen often, so you know it was amazing.

I Like To Dream...

...yes yes, right between the sound machine.

What the bleep does that even mean? I think it is obvious that "Magic Carpet Ride" was written while these people were high. I mean just listen to the lyrics. It makes absolutly no sense. Sorry, it doesn't. Its a hot song though.

And speaking of liking to dream... I wanna be a latin ballroom dancer. Well I don't wanna be LATIN, but I want to learn to do the latin ballroom dances. BAM!

Do You Want Me To Be Inside?

You've got that body and I wanna ride with you babe...you.

From Boney James feat. Jaheim... Ride. I loved this song when it came out about 5 or so years ago, but I recently heard it on the radio. This song gets it son. Sorry, it just does. Actually Boney James has gotten it since about 1998, but I kinda got tired of him because all of his stuff started to sound the same. Boneyard and Grand Central are good choices as well.

Now, for some reason, I am hearing his stuff a bit more (oh I know why, because I am back in the bay area and we actually have a jazz station here) and I just remembered how tough he gets it.

Take for instance, Pure. Freaking great song. That would be a song you listen to when you are driving down a coast, just chill. And to be honest, he isnt' the greatest saxaphonist, and yes he is very commercial, but it is he beats and compososition that set him apart.

You know what lets just do this for the heck of it. Imma post my favorite song from each album. Shoo I already started to.

So lets move on to Shine, which was his last album and admittedly I was not feeling this album. He had two good ones, Hypnotic with George Benson and In The Rain with Dwele. This song reminds me of the Starbucks on Center and Oxford...studying for the LSAT... very boo. Still a good song though.

Now Shake it Up with Rick Braun. There were actually a couple that I really liked on here. Grazing in the Grass has been done so much and they really didn't add anything to it. But RSVP was kinda hot on the other hand. Once again it is the programming and composition.

So Body Language was probably may favorite or second favorite of his albums. You can almost play this one straight through. Let's start with Are You Ready. I like this one because it is softer and smoother than a lot of his stuff, but it still gets it. It does sound a bit like Kenny G. at times, but the beats kill that notion quick. The title track Body Language gets it on so many levels. If this song is not sexy, I don't know what is. Like for real. Oh wee... Now Bedtime Stories. From the very first beats you are entranced. Just gives you chills. All the rest are solid.

Sweet Thing was the first Boney James CD I bought in 9th grade. Good memories. The first three are the best. The rest is solid. Words (unpoken) is hauntingly good.

Yeah, going through this list of CD's I do see how someone might say that Boney started to get unoriginal and uninspired. When we get to Seduction, it is kinda clear. The title track is like everything I said about all the other songs wrapped up into one. Camoflauge and Sara Smile are solid as well.

Is it wrong that I have never heard any of the songs from Trust? Maybe because I could never find it.

Backbone was OK, but probably my least favorite. I liked Just Between Us and thats about it. I love the way the soprano and alto saxes, "talk" to each other. Kinda Hot.

Woo, that just took me back.! Good stuff. I'm glad Smooth Jazz is not dying like hip hop and R&B are. Thanks guys

Um, How Bout Greatness?

Oh no! I was not awares that Kenny Loggins made, "Love Will Follow". Oh shucks! Just another reason why he is #2 best blue eyed soul guy next to Michael McDonald (although I don't think he has blue eyes lol). Anyway, this performance below was LIVE just like his "What A Fool Believes". He is so talented, why he didn't do more R&B I do not know because his voice is perfect. I mean seriously, on one of the lines he did, I had to keep rewinding it...perfect (About 3:17).

And lets not forget Shanice. She killed it here. I didn't know it was her on this song either. Well they both deserve mad props, I mean this is live... people just do not sound like this any more.



Lemme treat you to "What A Fool Believes" with Mr. McDonald since apparently I never posted that one. Great son. Great.

Big Mama

Um... there is a Korean female group called "Big Mama"... um they are excellent. In a couple of the songs, I don't know what they are saying, but they still be getting it son. Better than 80 percent of the R&B acts over here. Sooooo impressed. If you are not up on Big Mama, I think you should try them out.

Light Up My Life Like Diamonds and Pearls

Man...just found another song I've been looking for since High School. "Diamonds and Pearls" by Papa Reu...greatness. Is it very original, that would be a no, but it brings me back to a great time. Now all I have to do is find the mix of Born Jamericans' "Send My Love". It was mixed with Jay-Z's "Who You Wit"...great.

Oh yeah, I graduated from middle school 10 years ago....gaaaaa dog

Hot Garbage

The best part of the song "Lollipop" is... after you back it up then stop, drop is shawty...drop it like its hot. The voice box is kinda cool, but he doesn't have the voice control to do it effectively. The rest is hot garbage.

Pieces of a Dream

This is another smooth jazz group that I think gets over looked often. The piano player is amazing. Absolutly. If you listen to thier music, you cannot help but to give "the face" I've talked about so many times. The stuff is just so ridiculously hot.

The consistently put out stuff that is good. It has a same difference to it if that makes any sense. Their pieces have a uniqueness about them that you pretty much know that it is Pieces of a Dream but every album sounds different

I think what makes them so good is they know how to mix the piano with R&B rhythms... a lot of people claim that they do this...but not so. Most people just infuse R&B elements... but they have the whole package. And somehow they do not lose the smooth jazzness. Stix Bones is one who uses R&B and Hip Hop rhythms but his music sounds undeniably like R&B and Hip Hop. Somehow Pieces of a Dream are able to mix the piano with the sax and beats JUST right that it is an amalgamation of both.

What prompted this is because while listening to Pandora, I heard a song of theirs I had never heard. Turning it Up. Hotness... loving it.

Paul Hardcastle v. The Jazzmasters

Yeah, this is not a music battle. I just need someone to please tell me what the difference is between the two. I mean come ON...it's like the same people. Everyone knows they are the same. I think Paul Hardcastle goes in the studio and is like...hmmm... I think this is going to be a Jazzmasters song... like just super random.

To me, they are the same thing... but if anyone can tell me different, I'd appreciate it. lol

Miss Rap Supreme

So I'm watching vh1's Ms. Rap Supreme and I feel like the first episode might just be the best. I mean I was cracking up for the first 10 minutes, then it went downhill from there.... but my favorite lines...

"I'm in the paint tryna strangle a bitch..."- Hedonis da Amazon

Yeah it might not seem that funny but you HAVE to see it... she was hella scary with it which was why that ish was so funny.


"While you was throwing change I make it rain a million dollas. I know I'm not jewish but I still love me some Challah!!!!"

Someone needs to explain what Khia is doing on there? She was straight garbage, just like she was in 8th grade. Come on now son. Go home.

Copycat

Is it just me, or does the music from those Proactive commercials sound an awful like Bruce Hornsby's, "The Way It Is"? I'm just saying, like the breakdown in the song sounds exactly like the commercials. They coulda done a better job trying to hide the differences.

Speaking of that song... that is one of the best piano breakdowns like ever. The notes aren't complicated or anything... it just goes so well with the music.

George Michael

MAN, I love this man. He's freaking great. Anyone that says George Michael was not a great singer is on one... possibly two. I mean seriously. Let's go back to Wham! Careless Whisper? Early George Michael... One More Try? That song is GOLDEN. Just the conviction....loving it. Late George Michael... Fast Love and Amazing. I mean COME ON! Who can hate on that man? Even if he did the "Larry Craig" before Larry Craig was doing it... it doesnt matter.

Female Groups of the 90's

What ever happened to Brownstone? I mean really. They are probably (in my humble opionion) one of the best female vocal groups of all time. I mean honestly. You can't reproduce the harmonies they had in the studio. Plus, the lead singer was absolutly gorgeous (no homo).

I another post on Zhane sometime before, but I need to add it here. These chicks could sing too... I think Brownstone was better, but they are a close second. Once again, both of these chicks were straight up gorgeous (no homo)... and they were classy. With both of these groups, they were classy people. They were not gyrating on the floor and ish.

And what about Les Nubians? Oh my!

They put today's music to straight up shame

Feelin' It

Ahmad Jamal was quite and attractive young man...simply saying. Anyhoo, look at the style and grace of his playing. Loving it.

How bout this audio sample?

The Neck Factor

I have found a new term to describe what I used to call, "making the stank face". Marcus Johnson, pianist extrordinare came up with the more classy term of the "the neck factor". When the beat is just so funky and smooth that you can't help but move your neck. Real music heads know exactly what i am talking about. An example of a musician who always brings the neck factor is George Clinton. His stuff is so funky... you got get the neck going.

But let me introduce this question... what about songs that are so funky and getting it that "the neck factor" is simply not enough. Marcus Johnson's "Just Doing What I Do" is definatly one of those. There is this one part of the song, maybe it is the hook, not sure, but the bass line comes in, and you it forces not only the neck factor, but the stank face will pop up too. Greatness man.