Today’s music selection takes a more upbeat turn with DJ +1, a Colombian electronic music producer hailing from Bogotá. Discovered on Pitchfork’s Best Electronic Music of 2023 list, +1’s journey as a producer and DJ has led him through various countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador. This diverse exposure has allowed him to absorb local club styles, resulting in the...
I am listening to Laurindo Almeida, a Brazilian guitarist and composer originally from São Paulo. I was born in 1917 and began my musical journey by studying classical guitar, eventually turning professional in my hometown. I absorbed the rhythms and contours of pop music, and in 1947, I made the significant move to Los Angeles. During the early 1950s, I recorded my groundbreaking...
Step into the captivating world of Grand River, a gifted Dutch-Italian composer and producer currently calling Berlin home. As I embark on this auditory adventure, I’m struck by Grand River’s early exposure to the works of minimalist and ambient pioneers such as Meredith Monk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Laurie Spiegel, and Pauline Oliveros, as she shared with Patterns of Perception. In her...
Listening to Samuel Reinhard, a Swiss composer based in New York, whose music falls in the contemporary classical genre, became a captivating experience. Last year, I became obsessed with Repetitions, a four-movement work for three pianos that play notated motifs at their own pace, creating overlapping patterns. What I appreciate most about Reinhard’s composition style is the elegant use of...
Groovin’ to some upbeat vibes right now! Got Yetsuby, a Korean music maestro from Seoul, on my playlist. Kicking it off with her debut LP, “Heptaprism” (2019) – a funky collection of minimalistic laptop electronica. Later, diving into the freshest beats from her recent release, “My Star My Planet My Earth,” bringing that funky fusion of drum and bass/trance vibes...
I’m currently enjoying McCoy Tyner’s music – the American jazz pianist and composer hailing from Philadelphia. I started playing the piano at the age of 13 and even played professionally across Philly during high school. In 1960, I had the opportunity to contribute to John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things, marking the beginning of my pivotal role in Coltrane’s groundbreaking quartet. As...
Currently immersed in the captivating melodies of Khatia Buniatishvili, a virtuoso pianist hailing from Tbilisi, Georgia. Her musical journey began at the tender age of three, under the guidance of her mother, leading to a remarkable debut as a soloist with an orchestra at the age of six. The finesse with which she controls her expression is truly extraordinary, drawing inspiration from the...
Currently immersed in the captivating world of Bruce Brubaker, an accomplished American pianist hailing from Iowa. His educational journey at Juilliard reflects a passion for modern composers like John Adams, Meredith Monk, and Terry Riley. Engaging with his latest masterpiece, “Eno Piano,” Brubaker skillfully interprets six Eno pieces on solo piano, including works like Music for...
Listening to latest album “Blood Orange” by Freya Ridings. The album marks a significant evolution from her serene debut. The album’s upbeat tracks like “Bite Me” and “Weekends” showcase a newfound energy, with strings and percussion adding depth. Yet, she skillfully maintains her roots in songs like “Face In The Crowd” and...
Immersing myself in Johnny Nash’s ethereal melodies is a journey beyond ordinary music. Based in Amsterdam, Nash, a multi-instrumentalist and head of Melody as Truth, weaves atmospheric effects into his guitar strummings, creating a soulful experience. In the collaborative gem “Passive Aggressive” with Suzanne Kraft, Nash embraces silence alongside piano, bass, and guitar...
