Electronic Breakbeat Jazz

EBJ Blog Closed Until Further Notice

2006-04-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Electronic Breakbeat Jazz blog has been indefinitely postponed while I focus on other projects, such as Revolution Void (my EBJ music project) and my soundtrack/composition website at www.jonahdempcy.com.

I've also created a new blog dealing with electronic jazz, downtempo, breaks and nu-jazz. The new site is at breakbeatjazz.blogspot.com.

Thanks for reading!

-Jonah

Nick Schelle

2006-02-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

nick schelle - we should have been done hours ago

electronic album, independently released, 2004

A collection of songs written over four years...

I found out about Nick Schelle through the Very Tasteful site. (Very Tasteful is a comedy group that releases short films on the web). Nick does music for their videos, and also produces his own blend of eclectic electronica, incorporating funky breaks, retro electro beats and a wide range of other influences. From skimming through the album I also heard some guitars and latin percussion, but don't take my word for it, check out the album yourself! Link

2006-02-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

This is a great electronic music blog, and I'm not just saying that because they featured my music.
Actually, that is how I discovered this site, but since then I've followed the site, and have been pleasantly surprised at the wealth of good music suggestions. (eg: izmar)

Soulseek

2006-01-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Soulseek (or slsk as it's abbreviated) is an underground P2P-filesharing program and a netlabel for independent electronic artists.

Though the focus of the label is on IDM and experimental electronic music, the filesharing software includes all styles of music, IDM being particularly popular (along with indy rock, underground hiphop and other burgeoning independent music scenes).

The P2P client itself is somewhat conventional in that you can search for files, and it's somewhat like Direct Connect in that you can browse users' files and chat.

To me, the search functionality is less useful than simply going to a chatroom for the style of music I'm interested in (I spend a lot of time in Jazz-Full CDs), and either asking what's new, or manually browsing fellow users in the chatroom. You can find a great deal of unreleased and independent material this way, and people are surprisingly helpful at offering suggestions.

You can download the latest Soulseek client for free at this address: http://www.slsknet.org

Note that this is the only valid site for downloading it; all the other sites are fakes, which will infest your computer with spyware. Be careful as 3rd-party spyware companies have created fake Soulseek homepages at all the variations of the above address (slsknet.net, slsknet.com etc) ... So, make sure you're actually downloading it from slsknet.org, the real Soulseek homepage.

Kevin Yost

2005-12-23T01:55:00.000-08:00

This might not qualify as 'breakbeat' but it is certainly electronic and jazz. Kevin Yost blends smooth, atmospheric sounds with funky house grooves and jazz solos.

Oftentimes I'll avoid the house-jazz sound of, for instance, Rainer Truby, for being a little too smooth. But then again, I like St. Germain (especially that "put your hands together" track). So, I'm definitely open to jazzy house, if it's done right.

I guess my only problem with the Truby stuff (and some of Kevin Yost, to be honest) is that it's a bit too clean and smooth. I like my jazz to be gritty, raw, real. I just feel like some of the latin-tinged jazzy house can be too smooth.

But, I don't want to put down these guys who make it, because it's obviously crafted very well. Just, for instance, on Yost's Welcome Home, I would have really preferred the keyboard-acoustic-guitar be left out. (Reminds me of Basement Jaxx - Bingo Bango) ... But don't let this discourage you from checking out his work, I think it's really just a matter of personal taste.

I personally much prefer the gritty, unrefined aesthetic of DJ Premier, DJ Cam or Medeski Martin & Wood to the smooth, refined stuff like Truby Trio and a lot of the deep house out there. Maybe I'm just not much of a deep house fan, when it gets down to it.

Also, Yost seems to do some downtempo, groovy stuff as well, so perhaps my comment above about it not qualifying as breakbeat was misplaced. (Though, Yost's primary forte seems to be house music).

I especially like the atmospheric sounds, and some of the stuff with more depth, like What is Cool. That song, as well as the other downtempo ones, seem to have more interesting drum sounds and sonic textures, unlike the deep house material which is just too clean and purely electronic for my taste. I like acoustic drums, and hearing sounds with a bit more depth than a drum machine alone can produce.

I've only heard a few samples of his work (like this one) but I've heard enough to recommend it, for the funky improvisation, solid (albeit tried-and-true) grooves and the excellent use of atmospheric sounds and ambient effects.

(Link to www.kevinyost.com)

(I originally found out about Kevin Yost from Silver's Boogaloo)

Robotspeak Magazine

2005-12-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Robotspeak is a hip electronic music equipment store in San Francisco. They put out a magazine featuring interviews with electronic musicians, as well as reviews of the latest audio equipment (hardware & software).

I just got the newest issue in the mail today (free print subscriptions!) -- it's a must-have for electronic music aficianados and producers alike.

(Link)

Blockhead - Downtown Science (2005)

2005-12-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

This is a recent Ninja Tune release I checked out recently. It's a mix of lo-fi instrumental hiphop and eclectic samples.

While not as refined as DJ Shadow or Amon Tobin, Blockhead has some good tracks that make for a pleasant excursion into downtempo sampladelia.

I like the grittiness and lo-fi aesthetic of the album, similar to the sounds used by DJ Cam and DJ Premier. La Funk Mob also use of sounds with a lot of texture. Downtown Science follows in that vein, with an eclectic mix of lo-fi beats and sonic textures.

The lo-fi textures reveal their nature as vinyl samples, of which this album has an abundance. Were it not for the advent of turntables, albums like this (and most of DJ Shadow's work for that matter) would cease to exist. Which is not to say that these albums are uncreative, far from it -- just that their aesthetic depends heavily on samples of vinyl records.

The hodgepodge of samples can be a bit abrasive at times but overall the album is a good collection of rare grooves mixed with often surprising segues.

Some of the songs are a bit "guitar-y" for me (Good Block Bad Block) and the lo-fi/indy aesthetic is taken a bit past my comfort level. But, these are balanced by warm, atmospheric tunes that are more welcoming (Serenade). Again, I should point out that I'm just not much of a fun of guitar rock guitar solos in electronic music, so your mileage may vary.

So, overall I would recommend listening to it if you get the chance , simply to hear something unusual and unique. But, I can't really recommend buying it without hearing it first, because the same elements that make it unusual and unique may also deter a large audience. There will certainly be a niche who appreciate this album, but I would definitely recommend listening before you buy.

Also, in my opinion, it just lacks a bit in the composition and production department. Some of the mixes just don't seem to jive that well, and the times when it is grooving kind of get corny and played out with guitar licks. I appreciate the effort and about half of the album is recommendable, but taking the album as a whole, I would skip more tracks than I'd listen to.

If I had to pick stars, I would give it 3 out of 5. There are a couple of great songs (Expiration Date, The First Snowfall), remiscient of Amon Tobin, DJ Shadow and DJ Cam. But, these were outshadowed by harsh beats that just didn't click with me (ie: Dough Nation, Crashing Down).

On top of that, much of the mixing and production seemed a bit off, like the kick and snare being way too loud on Crashing Down and the clave being the loudest instrument on Quiet Storm.

I don't mean to nitpick, I'm just explaining my rationale for not being able to wholeheartedly recommend it. Would I recommend listening to it? Yes. But, making it a permanent addition to your collection? Not likely. Sure, there will be a niche out there who "gets it," but for many of us the eclectic and abrasive nature of many of the songs will put us off from the album.

2005-11-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite jazz albums with links to their respective AllMusic.com pages:

2005-11-22T02:09:00.000-08:00

I posted a bunch of free oneshot samples of FX hits with delay:

Delay Hits

Delay Hit 1 wav
Delay Hit 2 wav
Delay Hit 3 wav
Delay Hit 4 wav
Delay Hit 5 wav
Delay Hit 6 wav
Delay Hit 7 wav
Delay Hit 8 wav

Feel free to use them for whatever you like.

Dave's Imaginary Sound Space

2005-10-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Revolution Void featured on DISS

Dave's Imaginary Sound Space (DISS) is a site by Dave Holmes, that covers such topics as (in his own words) "digital audio & music, podcasting, video, multimedia, open content tools, & sundry exotic web references." Sounds like that covers just about everything interesting about the internet. ;) Definitely my kind of site ...

Check out the great review of Increase the Dosage, reproduced in its entirety:

###

Revolution Void is a music project that blends electronic styles with live improvisation. The project is masterminded by the talented young producer, jazz pianist and DJ Jonah Dempcy who describes the combination of improvised jazz, funk and hip-hop as 'electronic breakbeat jazz'.

'Increase The Dosage' is an 11 track album currently distributed under a Creative Commons license. Originally released on CD in the spring of 2004, 'Increase The Dosage' is now widely available online for free legal download including album artwork.

The line-up of accomplished musicians weave an intricate framework of danceable instrumental arrangements. Journey through soundscapes of down-to mid-tempo tracks with funky syncopated breakbeats, dub and funk bass lines, DJ cuts and scratches, improvised sax and trumpet solos, moody jazz keyboards and occasional vocal parts. This is quality music with attitude and direction that is sure to get plenty of attention from podcasters and the P2P community. Check the website out for more Revolution Void music and collaborations.

Project Websites

Revolution Void Homepage

Electronic Breakbeat Jazz Blog

people.tribe.net/jdempcy/

revolution.tribe.net

del.icio.us/fissionchips303/

Album Distribution Sites

Internet Archive - streaming audio and download file formats: Flac, Ogg Vorbis, 64Kbps MP3, VBR MP3.

LegalTorrents.com - Bittorrent download of MP3 audio and artwork 97 MB.

minova - Bittorrent 192kbps mp3 w/album art by Shawn, 96.87 megabyte.

Track List

1. Invisible Walls 6:59
2. Factum par Fictio 8:37
3. Habitual Ritual 6:05
4. Effects of Elevation 5:12
5. The Modern Divide 5:05
6. Weekend Amnesia 5:58
7. Double the Daily Dose 3:55
8. Obscure Terrain 3:42
9. Accelerated Lifestyle 8:10
10. Headphonetic 6:36
11. Nebulous Notions 6:57

Runtime: 67:22

Credits

All songs written and produced by Jonah Dempcy.

Jonah Dempcy - Hammond B-3, Rhodes, keyboards, scratching

Matthew Garrison - Bass on tracks 2 and 4

Seamus Blake - Sax on tracks 1 and 2

Darryl Estes - Sax on tracks 3, 7 and 10

Nicolas Manel - Guitar on track 9

Michael Shrieve - Drumloop source material on track 5

Dave Hill, jr. - Drumloop source material on tracks 2, 5, 9, 10

Steven Burke - Drumloop source material on track 1

James Rotondi - Bassloop source material on tracks 1, 4, 5, 7-11

Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich and Elysha Zaide - Vocals on track 5

Meta-search: http://revolution-void.gada.be/

Album artwork by Shawn Wolfe.

###

Wow, just wow. I'm truly honored. Talk about a detailed feature! He included just about every web link I have, as well as writing a review of the album that's much better than my current press kit. I've got to hire this guy to do my PR! ;)

Thanks, Dave!

Legal Torrents

2005-10-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

Legal Torrents

^ BitTorrent release of Revolution Void - Increase the Dosage (complete 192kbps mp3 with album art)

I love Legal Torrents -- I subscribe to their RSS feed and download from them all the time! They are a great resource for Creative-Commons-licensed and otherwise legally-distributable works. Besides music, they also have audiobooks, films and more. Legal Torrents is a hallmark of the information-age rennaisance. Live it up!

In-Tune

2005-10-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

Reviews of all types of electronic music: in-tune.blogspot.com

Revolution Void - Increase the Dosage

2005-10-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

The latest Revolution Void album Increase the Dosage has been released
to the public under a Creative Commons license.

The web-release comes with artwork by Shawn Wolfe.

It's available for download at www.revolutionvoid.com.

###

Technorati tags: revolution void breaks electronic breakbeat jazz mp3

Kurt Elling does the unthinkable -- lyrics to a 'Trane solo!

2005-10-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is truly an amazing thing: Kurt Elling has lovingly reproduced the already-amazing Coltrane classic Resolution from A Love Supreme, with his voice as the solo instrument. Yes, he has indeed written lyrics to an entire solo by John Coltrane - one note per syllable, to pinpoint precision. I've listened to the original and compared with this recording so many times, I can only believe that Elling locked himself up in a closet for 6 months listening to Resolution on repeat, channelling lyrics from a higher intelligence. Did I mention the lyrics are really good, too? A sampling:

But as he came into view the witness saw his eyes were crying.
Tears like blood fell to earth - as he watched heaven disappear in the void - up the drain into the paraboloid - realizing it all - everything -everywhere -into his eyes - seeing that all - he had beloved - went out of itself and away - here in this last ever surge of a day tearing all meaning away - and to the witness's indifference he had this to say:

"I know about birth. I know about death, and how the light goes out of men - the life departing - powerless
giving it up - but in the vast indifference I invent a deeper meaning.

I'm the one who will say 'use the will every day or go mad trying - go to war against the impotent side of living.

Use every power your given to stand and act like a man.

And pray -- every day to every god - strike the bowl of heaven and the ringing will become a law.

Build - bridges where you need to go - bring the fire of enlightenment here to life below.

Speak - mercy to the things you meet - listen up to hear the whispering of the blood you bleed.

Stay awake - no mistake - dance the dream awake - and awake."

-Kurt Elling, Resolution

For more info on this great modern jazz singer, check out www.kurtelling.com.

jazz

Music review: Herbie Hancock - Possibilities (2005)

2005-10-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

This album could have been so much more. It could have been a picking-up where The New Standard (1995) left off, a launching point for spontaneous improvisation. It could have been an opportunity for some of the greatest modern jazz players to improvise without the confines of over-complex chord progressions, the simplicity of the harmonic content allowing the musicians freedom to explore and go wherever the music takes them. Instead, it is a flat, dry, unashamedly commercial affair that has a cast of characters including Christina Aguilera (!), Sting and Santana.

Whereas The New Standard followed the time-honored tradition of jazz music to re-interpret and even re-invent songs from the pop idiom, Possibilities is, simply, pop. This album fails to satisfy even the most basic pre-requisites for maintaining my interest, so I give 1 out of 5 stars.

Electronic Breakbeat Jazz blog formed

2005-10-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

The focus of this blog will be to review and discuss music that falls under the category of electronic breaks, jazz, or a combination thereof.

This is a companion blog to revolutionvoid.blogspot.com, which is for news and updates regarding the electronic music project Revolution Void. (www.revolutionvoid.com)

I have seen a lot of spam posted in the comments on Blogger, but I've still left the comments open. Why? Because the internet is about interactivity, and we can't let a few spammers get in the way of that.

By the way, posting a canned message that is relevant to the topic at hand (ie: electronic breakbeat jazz) will not be considered spam, so feel free to do so.