sorry Roland but I'm breaking from the format for this post... but you'll find a few Lianne La Havas tracks in this spotify playlist I made a few months ago. https://open.spotify.com/user/12141052645/playlist/2rW3Z5wzas1QbkUErzRDeV
^No worries. But that's also why I haven't dropped Spotify, in spite of my Tidal subscription. Because there are better (more) playlists on Spotify, like MC Mannix's mix! Keep 'em coming. You're our source for staying hip, before hip replacement.
It's apparent that many of us like female singer/songwriters. Here's one who is not an unknown, but is nowhere as big as Diana Krall or Norah Jones. Still, IMO, she's a better songwriter than most—a staple in my listening tests. Name: Melody Gardot Singer/songwriter with a fascinating bio, using singing and songwriting as therapy from a near-death experience. Discovery means: "Similar to" recommendations Another one of my "listening test" staples: Name: Ayub Ogada Kenyan singer with an amazing voice Discovered when I searched for "best albums for testing hifi"
Mm...I grew up listening to Kenny G. Name of Artist: Euge Groove Description: He is a jazz saxophonist who played in backup bands for more famous artists (Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Richard Marx) before going solo. Very easy to enjoy. Definitely a worthy listen for lovers of uptempo smooth jazz. One of my favorite tracks of his is Cabolicious. Groove grooves! Discovery means: Tidal.com
I enjoyed that, well, the two hours that I had it playing in the background, on shuffle mode. Felt like I went out on a Friday night, sans the traffic! Also enjoyed Ron Pope, definitely worth further listening to. Soulful. Nuanced. And well-recorded/engineered. Lindsey Lou & The Flatbellys was good. Wished their album was better engineered because they have a nice blend. And after listening for two hours to Mannix's playlist, I decided to cap off my evening with this guy: Name: Julian Lage Jazz guitarist. A child prodigy who was so good that he became the subject of a 1997 documentary, "Jules at Eight" Discovered while I was looking for music similar to my faves, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, et al. This guy's musicianship is just incredible. Listen and feel it!
Any OPM discoveries?? I love the ease we can discover new music nowadays. However, I cannot remember the last time I actually went out to buy a physical or even a digital album (i blame my google play music subscription). I have always heard that streaming music does not compensate the musician enough. Musicians actually have to tour and sell merchandise just to make ends meet. I have seen a lot of indie singer/songwriter live who are really good but they cannot even fill a small bar. Streaming, although much better than piracy, still needs to be supplemented by support from music lovers in order for an artist to continue making good music. Watching someone perform live is priceless and makes the artists endeavor viable.
My Bubba Singer/Songwriter Discovered at The Hotel Cafe @greta87 - Thanks for that Spotify playlist link. Great list!
I blindly bought Madeleine Peyroux's debut CD 20 years ago, and got lucky as she was an unknown. I liked that album so much that I think I gave the CD to Cookie Chua, hoping to somehow influence her. Melody's hot indeed, especially in that tub. Nothing makes me squirm more than a vulnerable (sounding) woman.
I really wish there was. I am afraid that most Pinoys are constrained by the diatonic diet they grew up with. And English not being our first language, the writing is often pedestrian. Real poetry is hard to come by. UpDharmaDown, who officially renamed themselves recently to UDD, stands out. But the market's largely catch 22; commercial radio stations pander to plebeian tastes, so crap begets crap. I sure hope I'm wrong. And with traffic, there's little incentive to try my luck with new bands. Still, I did go out to see a few gig bands—AMP Big Band, The Blue Rats, et al. Nothing like live music. Alas, most PH venues have crappy acoustics. @greta87 has a stable of creative DJs, with originals of "export quality", but I prefer that for head-bobbin' moments, not for my eargasmic needs. Speaking of eargasms, check out the range on this: Artist: Cecile McLorin Salvant Jazz vocalist who will only get better, but is already amazing now at such a young age. Discovery by googling "young jazz musicians" I love, love, love singers who play a musical instrument. They paid their dues and their deep musical understanding shows—beyond what most karaoke belters ever will. And here, she swings (better mic'd too): A woman possessed by legends. Ella, Sarah, Billie? All!
One of my bass guitar heroes: Artist: Stephen Bruner. Aka Thundercat Did session work with Kendrick Lamar, suicidal tendencies etc... Discovery: via Ask Men, I think from a few years back,
^haha. could all the embedded videos. Not a recent discovery, but my bass guitar hero nonetheless: Artist: Victor Wooten Bassist extraordinaire Discovered back in the 90s, way before YouTube. I heard about him being the bassist of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, a jazz/bluegrass band with the banjo as the lead instrument. But then USAID brought them to Manila, and they were great. Victor Wooten blew me away and I've been a fan ever since. Here's an unusual performance, a "musical graduation speech": (No, your headphone or right speaker isn't busted; it's a flawed left-channel only recording, but still amazing) And Victor, with my bass guitar heroes who preceded him (not their best performance together, but a song familiar to many): BTW, I already made a Spotify playlist of artists (most) suggested here. Will continue building it, so keep sharing your discoveries, old or new!
Melody Federer Stride Pop/Jazz Saw her busking at 3rd St. promenade in Santa Monica Liking her first album (an americaine in paris) more than her recent work though.
Made a Spotify playlist, entitled PhilMUG LSS (Lady Singer/Songwriters). https://open.spotify.com/user/rbenzon/playlist/3Dz6S9mf9fjPeU7up6hFy2 For your chill Sunday listening pleasure! Added a few new discoveries to the playlist, including: Artist: Ingrid Michaelson Singer/songwriter, cross-genre (folk, jazz, ambient, etc.) Discovered on Tidal, "artists similar to Regina Spektor"
I love Ingrid. A few years ago, I actually produced an electronic music cover of Ingrid's duet with Sara Bareilles of this Christmas tune they made - 'Winter Song'. My friend, Linda Courtien, sang this for me. https://soundcloud.com/chinasyndrome/winter-song-2013 Ingrid's cover of Radiohead's Creep remains one of my favorites, check it out:
Ingrid fans in da haus!!! Creep is good but her loop-pedal laced cover of REM's Nightswimming is jaw dropping live. Here's a video I took 6 years ago. Sorry for the video quality as mentioned this was 6 years ago. And do not forget her legendary ode to Mexican Food.
Morgan James Jazz, Soul, Singer/Songwriter Discovered in a post modern jukebox viral video Morgan James covering the entire Continuum album. Definitely worth the 37 min listen. But Gravity is exceptional especially around the 12:00 mark.
