ContemporaryJazz.com » John Hilderbrand

8 from 1989 – Mix Online!

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:12:51 +0000

Take a step into the past with these eight tracks from contemporary jazz releases that came out in the year 1989! Listen to classics from the Rippingtons, Miles Davis, and Hiroshima. Also, who put the meat in my bed?! It’s the second mix I’ve published on 8tracks. If you like this blast from the past, check out my 1988 mix with David Sanborn, David Benoit, Spyro Gyra, Tom Grant, Kim Pensyl, and Al Jarreau.

1989 Contemporary Jazz from contemporaryjazz on 8tracks.

Sting, Branford, and Herbie

John Hilderbrand — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:18:24 +0000

If you have an iPad, I recommend downloading the free Sting 25 app. Sting is celebrating 25 years as a solo artist. Among the cool things in the app are clips from his 60th birthday concert, from early October, in which he teamed with other artists. On “Consider Me Gone,” we’re treated to Sting with Branford Marsalis and Herbie Hancock. The man on the bass for that evening was another contemporary jazz legend, Christian McBride.

Nu Jazz from Fujimoto Tetsuro

John Hilderbrand — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:59:50 +0000

Check out the nu-jazz/acid jazz feel of the track “Swim” by Fujimoto Tetsuro. It’s from the producer’s new EP Reflections, which I found in Amazon’s MP3 Store (it’s not on iTunes).

Swim by Fujimoto Tetsuro

Global Noize – A Prayer for the Planet

John Hilderbrand — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:10:13 +0000

I’ve been listening to A Prayer for the Planet, the new recording by the jazz/electronica/world collective Global Noize. I can’t imagine why a fan of contemporary jazz wouldn’t want to sample this. It doesn’t follow any formulaic smooth jazz style. It’s got the duo of Jason Miles and DJ Logic leading a cast of talented musicians including Falu, Karl Denson, Mocean Worker, Jeff Coffin, and Oz Noy. It’s a recording that has something for everybody: from the rocktronic/world vocal track “Charisma Love” to the atmospheric “Walking on Air.”

DJ Logic describes Global Noize as “a hip and eclectic musical journey crossing all boundaries.” Miles, Logic, and Falu talk more about this 21st century music:

Us3 Lies, Cheats, and Steals in October

John Hilderbrand — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:11:24 +0000

Hip hop/jazz collective Us3 returns with their eighth studio recording, Lie, Cheat & Steal next month. The first of the 13 tracks, “Ghost,” leans on the jazz side, telling a story of abuse and revenge. It’s the first of the messages relating to the theme of the title. Leader Geoff Wilkinson explains ”I’ve become increasingly disillusioned by the people we, as children, are traditionally brought up to look up to. Politicians, police, business leaders, sportsmen, religious leaders, etc. all seem to be up to their eyeballs in corrupt practices. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening at an increasing pace. Is this what a democracy should look like, where it’s ok to lie, cheat and steal your way to the top?” The music drives this in. Of note are MC’s Oveous Maximus and Akala and the horn section of saxman Ed Jones and trumpeter Bryan Corbet. A variety of keyboardists add to the mix as well as Chris Dodd on Double Bass and DJ First Rate on the turntable.

Lie, Cheat & Steal is available digitally worldwide on October 3. You can sample and pre-order it on Amazon right now.

8 from 1988 – Playlist Online!

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 04:58:48 +0000

Take a step into the past with these eight tracks from contemporary jazz releases that came out in the year 1988! Hear music from Kim Pensyl’s first series of sketches, Al Jarreau feeling so good, David Benoit taking every step along the way, and David Sanborn missing someone so far away. It’s one of a number of mixes I hope to be putting up on 8tracks in the future.

Click on the Play button in the lower left corner of the blown-up image below to listen right now!

Ramsey Lewis Releases 80th Recording

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:13:40 +0000

Ramsey Lewis has pulled out his Fender Rhodes and enlisted his Electric Band for his 80th recording. Ramsey, Taking Another Look features Lewis’ favorite tunes including a new edit of the original “Sun Goddess” recording featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and a new rendition of the Stevie Wonder penned “Living for the City”. After headlining so many albums, it’s truly saying something when Lewis states that “this album is definitely among the top five.”

Ramsey, Taking Another Look will be released on the Hidden Beach label on September 20th.

Top of the Charts – July 2006, 2001, 1996, 1986

John Hilderbrand — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:48:40 +0000

Here’s the top-selling contemporary jazz albums, according to Billboard magazine, in mid-July of years past.

25 years ago: Larry Carlton, Alone/But Never Alone
15 years ago: Quincy Jones, Q’s Jook Joint
10 years ago: Brian Culbertson, Nice and Slow
5 years ago: Wayman Tisdale, Way Up

Amazon.com Widgets

New Contemporary Jazz Discussion Area!

John Hilderbrand — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:47:35 +0000

The ContemporaryJazz.com group on Facebook has been upgraded! Come join the community and discuss the music you love, post pictures, add links, and more. Today’s topic, the always popular: what are you listening to right now?

Amazon vs. iTunes: June Jazz

John Hilderbrand — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:58:35 +0000

There seems to be a higher-than-usual number of contemporary jazz recordings coming out this month. Here’s a quick breakdown of what the latest music costs at iTunes vs. the Amazon MP3 shop.

		Amazon	iTunes
Pat Metheny	What’s It All About	$8.99	$11.99
Michael Franks	Time Together	$6.99	$9.99
Corea, Clarke & White	Forever	$15.00	$19.99
Paul Taylor	Prime Time	$6.99	$9.99
New Gary Burton Quartet	Common Ground	$8.99	$9.99