In the hands of musicians as inspired by J Dilla as they are Miles Davis, jazz has been undergoing a renaissance over the past half a decade or so — not just in the U.S., where artists have been reclaiming and reinventing the genre for a new generation, but also significantly in the U.K. and elsewhere.
"Jazz is everywhere, right now, from left-field innovators like Shabaka Hutchings to rappers like Loyle Carner," explained Downtown's Global President Mike Smith in a recent print issue of the Downtown Journal. "The emerging scene in South London, featuring our very own Nubya Garcia, has been capturing global attention — and with good reason. Generations of kids who grew up on hip-hop and R&B are looking to jazz for inspiration, and are finding new ways to make it their own."
Our New Jazz playlist highlights the work of musicians, songwriters, and producers from our roster who have contributed to the genre's revival by continuing to push it forward, featuring music by several contemporary jazz pioneers: London jazztronica duo Blue Lab Beats; New Orleans' Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, whose 2020 album "Axiom" earned the trumpeter Grammy nods for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo, as well as his supergroup with modern jazz kingpins Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin, and Justin Tyson, R+R=NOW; Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Krasno and his fusion trio with Alan and Neal Evans, Soulive; London saxophone queen Garcia, considered one of the British jazz scene's leading figures; L.A.'s own upright bassist Miles Mosley, a founding member of the West Coast Get Down and longtime Kamasi Washington collaborator; Brooklyn-based Nick Hakim's recent collaboration with jazz saxophonist Roy Nathanson; as well as some cuts from the 2016 Glasper-helmed collection of reimagined Davis works, "Everything's Beautiful," for good measure.
Listen to our New Jazz playlist and see the full tracklist below.
Tracklist
Nubya Garcia - "Pace"
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "Ruler Rebel (X. aTunde Adjuah Remix)"
Miles Mosley - "Shadow Of Doubt"
Neue Grafik Ensemble - "Voodoo Rain" ft. Nubya Garcia
Neue Grafik Ensemble - "Something is Missing"
Eric Krasno - "Song For Dilla"
Blue Lab Beats - "Pineapple" ft. Moses Boyd & Nérija
Nubya Garcia - "The Message Continues"
SAULT - "The Beginning & the End"
R+R=NOW - "Change Of Tone"
Miles Mosley - "Reap A Soul"
Soulive - "E.D. Hambone"
Miles Davis & Robert Glasper - "Milestones (Remix)" ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow
Blue Lab Beats - "Piña Colada" ft. Nubya Garcia & Richie Seivwright
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "The Walk" ft. Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Louis VI - "Sugar Like Salt" ft. Nubya Garcia
Eric Krasno - "Up and Out"
Nick Hakim & Roy Nathanson - "Cry and Party"
Blue Lab Beats - "Xover" ft. Moses Boyd
Neue Grafik Ensemble - "Hedgehog's Dilemma" ft. Brother Portrait
Soulive - "Hat Trick" ft. The Shady Horns
Miles Mosley - "Young Lion"
Miles Davis & Robert Glasper - "I'm Leaving You" ft. Ledisi & John Scofield
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "The Emancipation Procrastination"
Blue Lab Beats - "808" ft. Sheldon Agwu, Terry Smiles & Lala &ce
Nubya Garcia - "Stand With Each Other" ft. Ms MAURICE, Cassie Kinoshi & Richie Seivwright
Soulive - "Turn It Out"
Miles Mosley - "Abraham"
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "Diaspora"
Eric Krasno - "Tilt"
Nubya Garcia - "Boundless Beings" ft. Akenya
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "X. Adjuah (I Own the Night)"
Neue Grafik Ensemble - "Foulden Road"
R+R=NOW - "Respond"
Blue Lab Beats - "Timeless" ft. Daniel Taylor, Dominic Canning, Dylan Jones & Ashley Henry
Soulive - "Bridge To Bama"
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - "Twin"
Blue Lab Beats - "Blue Skies" ft. Ashley Henry, Piers Haynes, Daniel Casimir, William Francis & Shelia M. Maurice-Grey
Nick Hakim & Roy Nathanson - "Things to Like and Not Like in America"
Miles Davis & Robert Glasper - "Little Church (Remix)" ft. Hiatus Kaiyote
Nubya Garcia - "Source" ft. Ms MAURICE, Cassie Kinoshi & Richie Seivwright
R+R=NOW - "Resting Warrior (Live)"
