DJ Krush is known as the father of japanese trip and hip-hop. His sounds create a unique dark downtempo atmosphere. Toshinori Kondo is one of the top trumpeters from Japan. The combination of a turntablist such as Krush and the trumpeting of Kondo seems like it wouldn’t be a match. Yet, the mixture once again proves that Krush’s ability to produce with live musicians creates very impressive and moving results. Amazing album! A must!
A couple of months ago I posted this Polish band's debut album. This is another great album released in 2008. Extremely beautiful jazz, post-jazz, nu-jazz music. Highly recommended.
The Drift are an instrumental four-piece from San Francisco, USA, who are comprised of trumpet, electronics, guitar, keyboards, upright bass and drums. Their music combines elements of rare groove, dub, out jazz, and more esoteric leanings that conjure a unique musical space free of traditional confines, simultaneously frenetic and sublime. This is their second full-length album after their 2005 debut "Noumera". Fantastic album!
Nils Petter Molvær is a Norwegian trumpet player, composer and producer, who connects multiple music styles - jazz, ambient, house, electronic and break beats, as well as elements from hip hop, rock and pop music - and melts them into convincing soundscapes of deep intensity. He is considered a pioneer in nu-jazz and especially the fusion of jazz and electronic music. Khmer is his debut album, released in 1997, an amazing blend of improvisation and hypnotically spinning beats. Get it now!
Middle 9 is a band formed in Osaka, Japan, in 2003. This is their first full-length album, released in 2008. Their music is a combination of post-rock and jazz, similar to Tortoise. Really good! Highly recommended!
Xploding Plastix is a Norwegian two-man band playing acid-jazz/nu-jazz music. Jens Petter Nilsen and Hallvard Wennersberg Hagen (formerly in Norwegian black metal band Kvist) formed the group in early 1999, and submitted their first demotape in 2000. This is their debut full-length album released in 2001. Really good!
Contemporary Noise Quintet (now Sextet) is a group from Poland. Their music can be described as energetic jazz with elements of film music. However, the variety of sounds does not allow pigeon-holing their music style unambiguously. This is their debut album released in 2006. Awesome!
Tangled Thoughts of Leaving is a band formed in early 2004 in Mandurah, Australia. Their music is a unique combination of metal, post-rock and jazz. Really awesome! This is their debut EP released in 2008, which they made available for free download. Get it!
Esbjörn Svensson Trio were a Swedish jazz piano trio, formed in 1990, with Esbjörn Svensson (piano), Dan Berglund (double bass) and Magnus Öström (drums). E.S.T were renowned for their vibrant style, often playing in rock venues to young crowds. They achieved great commercial success and critical acclaim throughout Europe. Their 1999 release "From Gagarin's Point of View" started their international breakthrough, being the first E.S.T. album to be released outside of Scandinavia. Esbjörn Svensson tragically died after a diving accident in June 2008. After this, E.S.T., as a band, has come to an end. This album is a 2005 release, a fantastic jazz album. Highly recommended!
