Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #99: Alex Hitchcock

 

Welcome to Episode #99 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which sees Imran secure time with saxophonist and composer, Alex Hitchcock.

As well as serving as a member of numerous projects including Resolution 88 and AuB, Hitchcock's role as a band leader has led to some fantastic pieces of music and now, with his second release with the revered Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent, Hitchcock seems poised to subvert expectations once again with the release of 'Dream Band'.

With the release of 'Dream Band', Hitchcock assembles an inspired line-up of musicians to comprise his own dream band.  With artists including Cherise Adams-Burnett, Joe Downard, Will Barry, Luisito Quintero and Midori Jaeger amongst a host of others, and recorded in London over the course of three days with the band arrangements mixed up for each session, the end results of this album must serve as a wholly satisfying experience for Hitchcock - hand-picking a range of fifteen world class artists whose talents each hold personal significance and being able to establish the artistic course for a project that is built around discussion, trust and open collaboration must all result in a career high for Hitchcock.

During this episode, we talk to Alex about 'Dream Band', the project's collaborators, his role within Resolution 88 and AuB, live performances and jazz today.

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-Green:PODCAST_#99_Alex Hitchcock

New music round-up ::: October 2021

'Remix EP' by As Valet

As a wonderful extension to As Valet's 'Virgo Stellar' album, released July of this year, Futuristica Music follow up on the project's soulful electronica bliss by releasing the accompanying 'Remix EP' boasting inspired re-imaginings from heavyweights including Daz-I-Kue, Simon S and Quiet Dawn.  As Valet's career in music has been built upon his incredible versatility - as a member of the future soul quartet Electric Conversation to his solo releases of instrumental hip-hop-inspired projects to the soul-drenched house-esque compositions that went on to give birth to 'Virgo Stellar' - As Valet's passion-filled approach to music-making make his releases an absolute joy to immerse yourself within as it comes from the purest of places.  Brought to life via the vocal prowess of LaNote and J.McFysian, the ethereal and sublime nature of the 'Virgo Stellar' soundscape is brilliantly matched by the EP's collaborators...

Daz-I-Kue's take on the album single, 'Lost', plunges the song even further into electronic realms this time veering into broken beat territory while Quiet Dawn's sublime and intimate recreation of 'Come True' is another winner with production beautifully catering to LaNote's vocal.  And it feels like some time since we've seen Simon S dabble within electronic/nu-soul productions so his take on 'Verite Sur L'amour' by way of his 'European Gentlemen Re-Edit' marks an awesome return to form.  'Condescendant' marks the final icing on the cake with a not-previously-released track by As Valet perhaps hinting at what may be next in store.

'Beat Tape 2' by Magro

What a year it's been for the multi-talented and multi-faceted Berlin-based drummer and producer.  With the first of his potentially ongoing 'Beat Tape' series having been released in February, this year also saw the release of Magro's debut full-length album, 'Trippin' - a thrilling and bold release aided by some excellent collaborators like Leona Berlin and Kurt Rosenwinkel - which saw Magro present his vision for an all-encompassing approach to contemporary jazz.

While Magro's 'Beat Tape' projects are clearly representative of his affection for hip-hop, the pieces themselves are actually indicative of considerably more far-reaching musical inspirations.  Considered a jazz artist before anything else, the tracks throughout 'Beat Tape 2' masterfully build upon the project's predecessor boasting these lush textures built around Magro's live drumming which form the backbone for each of the tracks exuding a genuine sensitivity.  The intricacy behind 'Mantra', for example, hits like a melancholy lament; the astro bounce of tracks like 'Julo' and 'Low' both accentuated by their use of vocal samples are excellent as is the production on 'Poetic' which sounds like something the late-90s Ummah (Tip/Dilla/Ali) production collective would have enthusiastically put their name onto.  

Genuinely one of the most exciting and innovative artists currently making music today.

'Too Good' by Leona Berlin

This is an album that really can't come soon enough!  With her self-titled debut album initially released in 2018, Leona Berlin's neo-soul rooted take on contemporary R&B was spearheaded by some fantastic tracks including 'Thinking About You' (featuring Casey Benjamin, no less!), 'Walking' and 'Cruel'.  A real pleasure of a release but one that may very well be bettered by Berlin herself if the run-up of singles gearing towards her sophomore album are anything to go by - 'Feminine Energy', 'Cage' and the single we recently beamed about, 'High Life', all demonstrating Berlin's charm and distinct personality and representative of an ever-evolving artist.  

'Too Good' absolutely adds to the incredibly high expectations for the upcoming full-length.  Brought to life through some excellent production showcasing lush keys and an awesome vocal, the song is also accompanied by a video that captures the song's energy and feel-good aesthetic.  With the album release currently scheduled for November of this year, we very much look forward to finally being able to hear the whole project in its entirety.

'Don't Follow Me' by Abi Farrell

With singles from Carmy Love and Nick Corbin, Big AC Records have been amassing an excellent array of releases this year.  The label's affections for classic soul music brought to life by a team of artists with the focus and vision of steering the genre towards an exciting future really comes through with each of their releases.  Abi Farrell's anthemic 'Don't Follow Me' single will not just stand tall as one of the label's standout singles of the year but likely as one of the label's forever revered releases. 

Classic soul music by no less than the genre's icons like Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron, Sam Cooke, James Brown... all ask timeless questions about the society they grew up in and questions that sadly still ring relevant today.  Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On?' serves as a great example... maybe we're destined to always ask that question but it's certainly a question people still ask 50 years later.  Farrell's phrasing of that question in this instance is powerfully presented with some great writing and production but predominately through an exquisite and sincere vocal that will make you want to follow her anywhere!

In Focus ::: Q-Sounds Recording

In an episode that first aired 16th October 2021, Blue-in-Green:RADIO was overjoyed to broadcast an episode of their In Focus record label series celebrating the catalogue of Q-Sounds Recording.

Founded in 2009, Q-Sounds is an independent funk & soul label who can boast a veritable treasure trove of contemporary gems from an inspired roster of vocalists and musicians.  Calling Seine Saint-Denis their home, the label that thrives off of that quintessential analog sound was set up by Ludovic Bors and Chris Thomas who have strived to present some of France's brightest stars in today's revered scene. 

Bolstered by a dream team of acts including The Supertights, The VOGS, Lisa Melissa & the Mess, Principles of Joy, Little Clara, Laura Llorens & The Shadows of Love, The Adelians plus much more, Q-Sounds Recordings have earned the right to have their music cited in the same conversation as any of the forerunners of today's soul music scene.

This episode of In Focus serves as a fantastic introduction to the label's phenomenal releases with a 2-hour selection prepared by the Q-Sounds team themselves showcasing some of their classics along some stunning exclusives.

A massive thank you to Christelle Amoussou and Ludovic Bors for this incredible episode celebrating Q-Sound's monumental releases!

Blue-in-Green Sessions · In Focus ::: Q-Sounds Recording; mixed by Christelle Amoussou and Ludovic Bors

'Cosmic Dust' by Kasia Konstance

'Cosmic Dust' is the new EP release from the multi-talented, Polish-born and London-based, Kasia Konstance.

As a singer, songwriter and flautist, Konstance's rise to prominence has really been a long-time coming.  Boasting an incredibly enviable résumé that has seen her positioned within various fields of the music business including past roles at Worldwide FM, to live events curating and her current marketing & communications role within the prestigious Astigmatic Records - Konstance's unwavering passion and commitment to the industry has certainly been rewarded as she finds herself in the unique position of being entrenched within both the business and artistic sides of an exciting and burgeoning London sound.

Comprised of five tracks and spearheaded by the lush, acoustic guitar-driven number, 'You Never Do', released earlier this summer, the 'Cosmic Dust' EP is genuinely a treasure trove of contemporary soul-infused and dynamic R&B.  While 'North 41' relishes in its own hip-hop influences, other tracks like 'Don't Wanna Know' and 'Rainy Days' showcase more intricate production which masterfully presents more of the varying facets of Konstance as an ever-evolving artist.  Happily wearing her influences on her sleeve, the works of performers like Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder have often been touted by Konstance as strong sources of inspiration for her own music with the results a skilful interweaving of varying elements of R&B, neo-soul and jazz to create something distinctly her own.

'Cosmic Dust' delivers as the perfect and formal introduction to an artist on the cusp of significant recognition and marks a further feather in the cap of what's already been a hugely successful year for Konstance.  Opening for Richard Spaven at the Jazz Cafe in June of this year was a huge achievement and, aside from Konstance's contributions as a solo artist, there are also the continual successes of the phenomenal Jelly Cleaver-helmed All Day Breakfast Café collective of which Konstance features heavily, flute in hand.  With currently two singles under their belt ('Old School Struggling' and 'What If Nile Rodgers and Fela Kuti Were Friends') in preparation for their 'Builder's Brew' EP due to be released this year, the disco-meets-afrobeat-meets-jazz collective are, again, poised for incredible successes.

'Cosmic Dust' introduces listeners to a confident and charismatic young artist and is an awesome project befitting Konstance's talent and versatility.

'Dream Band' by Alex Hitchcock

'Dream Band' marks the new album release from saxophonist Alex Hitchcock who continues his association with the Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent.

Marking his second release for the label, Hitchcock's incredible release from last year under the banner of his own Alex Hitchcock Quintet ('All Good Things') would surely set expectations for his follow-up exceedingly high.  A massively enjoyable, intricate and imaginative record, Hitchcock's boundless ideas clearly didn't stop at the conclusion of that album as the current 'Dream Band' release sees the UK stalwart once again strive for an even grander scope.

Much of Hitchcock's charm comes through his continual desire to push the envelope, try new things and take his music into previously unexplored directions...  As part of Resolution 88, the jazz-funk, Herbie Hancock-inspired collective can boast three albums to date with each release re-exploring their sound to include elements of broken beat and hip-hop over the course of their musical narrative.

Hitchcock's AuB project in conjunction with fellow saxophonist Tom Barford sees the duo veer towards a more abstract and ethereal aesthetic as evidenced through their stunning self-titled release of last year.

And while last year's Alex Hitchcock Quintet album, 'All Good Things', was a fantastic showcase for some incredible home grown UK talent, Hitchcock seeks to subvert those expectations once again for 'Dream Band' by extending the collaborative pool to include some revered names from the US alongside some of the UK's leading performers.  Even employing the title of 'Dream Band' demonstrates Hitchcock's humility when creating music with artists he himself holds in such high esteem.  Of the names recruited for this ambitious ensemble are the familiar names of bassist Joe Downard and pianist Will Barry from Hitchcock's own quintet.  The UK is further represented by vocalist Cherise Adams-Burnett who - whether lending her indelible vocal to the likes of Trope, Nubiyan Twist, SEED Ensemble or past Alex Hitchcock Quartet projects - always finds a way to make the moment her own as she absolutely does through her wordless vocal performances on 'To Love Itself' and 'FSTL'.  

Vocal duties on the album are shared with Midori Jaeger who breathes scintillating life into the album opener 'Wolf and Nina' as well as 'Azalea'.  The US are adeptly represented by names including decorated drummer Jason Brown, iconic percussionist Luisito Quintero and Fresh Sound label mate saxophonist Chris Cheek.

Recorded in London over the course of three days with the band arrangements mixed up for each session, the end results of this album must serve as a wholly satisfying experience for Hitchcock - hand-picking a range of fifteen world class artists whose talents each hold personal significance and being able to establish the artistic course for a project that is built around discussion, trust and open collaboration must all result in a career high for Hitchcock.

While it would certainly be true to cite any musical collective comprising of even half the names on display for this album as a 'dream band', Alex Hitchcock must surely start to acknowledge his own place as a key part of that line-up - thanks to his inspirational and tirelessly prolific output, Hitchcock's continual ascension will already have him listed as a dream collaborator for artists on either side of the Atlantic.