The Mighty Bop

Instinct has a reputation for presenting fine compilations highlighting the best of more obscure labels worldwide. This first chapter in their future jazz series heralded styles and categories that have since become adopted into the electronica vernacular. Licensed from Germany's stalwart Compost label, home to many artists eking out their own singular takes on downtempo trip-hop and drum-and-bass, Volume 1 includes contributions from Rephlex's Gentle People (the Casio-squelched lullabies of "Journey"), and Max 404, who uses the gurgling opening synth riff of Gary Numan's "Cars" to devastating effect on the interstellar overdrive "Quiddity." Fauna Flash offers the sultry drum-and-bass sulk of "Sexual Attraction," and there are other outstanding contributions from Patrick Pulsinger, Shantel, Chaser, and Turntable Terranova. The Future Sound Of Jazz is rare groove funk for space critters across the universe.

Lounge music is a type of easy listening music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It may be meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place, usually with a tranquil theme, such as a jungle, an island paradise or outer space. The range of lounge music encompasses beautiful music–influenced instrumentals, modern electronica (with chillout, and downtempo influences), while remaining thematically focused on its retro-space-age cultural elements…

For over two decades, pianist Joey Calderazzo has been unassumingly, yet assuredly, impressing listeners with his informed and refined playing. Using elements of style from his musical heroes as a springboard, the pianist has developed his own take on the tradition, which he happily shares on his new recording, Joey Calderazzo Trio Live, recorded during a performance at Daly Jazz in Missoula, Montana.