Song
Dance of Passion by Ron Blake
Back story
Originally from the Virgin Islands, Ron Blake currently resides in New York City, where he is a well-regarded big-toned hard bop tenor saxophonist. He played with Roy Hargrove and Art Farmer in the ‘90s before forming his own band. He generally leans toward the bluesy and funky side of jazz, and manages to sound classic and modern simultaneously.
Why this song
Taken from his 2005 release, Sonic Tonic, this song features an airy, exotic backdrop, striking rhythmic accents, tight harmonic chords, and Ron’s melodic yet adventurous solos. Sonic Tonic was the first full album produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, and her musical vision is evident on this re-working of the Johnny Griffin original. Ron was featured on her jazz release, The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel, and they complement each other nicely.
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All About Jazz
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Song
We Were Gonna by Dengue Fever
Back story
Upon first listen, one wonders if this is ‘60s Southeast Asian pop or perhaps California psychedelic surf music gone wild. Turns out it’s both. Dengue Fever’s formation makes for an interesting story. Some Los Angeles musicians traveled to Cambodia in the late ‘90s and were bitten by two bugs: falling in love with the American-inspired radio hits mixed with Cambodian lyrics, and dengue-fever-carrying mosquitoes, which eventually inspired the brilliant band name. Years later, back in LA trying to replicate the music they heard overseas, they ran into Cambodian-born singer Chhom Nimol, and the band was born. She adds authenticity to the music, providing Khmer lyrics as well as many years on the Cambodian singing circuit.
Why this song
This is the lead track on their 2nd release, Escape from Dragon House. It features a pounding beat, organ, horns, and the soaring vocals of Chhom Nimol. The musical arrangement is solid, and you are transported to another world where dance, surf, jazz, and world-beat collide. It’s not a subtle song, so turn it up, and enjoy some genre-bending music.
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All Music
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