Music To Forget Your Troubles

21/02/2018

Take it Slow - Charlotte Dos Santos

Take it Slow - Charlotte Dos Santos
Enjoy the r'n'b inflected, guitar, electronic drums, and rich vocals of talented vocalist and producer Charlotte Dos Santos as she reflects on a lover who never measured up to her expectations.
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Charlotte Dos Santos is a Norwegian singer and producer whose sound combines old school r'n'b, jazz, Latin and Brazilian music with electronic sounds. Although she grew up in Norway, her father is Brazilian and she listened to a wide range of music growing up. Her influences are showcased in her acc

21/02/2018

Music To Forget Your Troubles's cover photo

07/02/2018

Prototype - OutKast

Prototype - Outkast
Not sure if your new love interest is "the one"? No worries! He or she might be the prototype. Vibe with Andre 3000 on this funky classic.
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Dreamy, funky vibes are served up plentifully on this classic track from OutKast's 2003 Speakerboxx/the Love Below double album. The song is a celebration of a new love, who may not be "the one" but who is good enough for now. Andre 3000 blissfully sings, harmonizes, and ad-libs about spen

27/01/2018

Lowrider - Yussef Kamaal

Lowrider - Yussef Kamaal
Relax into your day with the drum and bass driven grooves from Yussef Kamaal.

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Drum and bass are the focus of this instrumental funk track from London duo Yussef Kamaal. Both members of the group, Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams (aka Henry Wu), are drummers, so the emphasis on groove comes as no surprise.

18/01/2018

Here - Eric Lau, Rahel

Here - Eric Lau, Rahel
A irresistible laid-back hip hop groove accompanies Rahel's profound lyrics about being present in the moment.
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Added to the playlist this week, a beautifully jazzy hip hop track by Eric Lau, a producer and DJ from London. Lau has worked with such artists as Gilles Peterson, Georgia Ann Muldrew, Fatima, Homeboy Sandman, Robert Glasper, and Erykah Badu.

10/01/2018

Ordinary Day (feat. Stuart Zender) - Omar

Ordinary Day - Omar Lyefook
Music to Forget Your Troubles is welcoming the new year (after a brief break) with a soulful, Brazilian tinged track from British soul king Omar. The track is a joyous acknowledgement of our loved ones, who make every ordinary day so sweet.
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Seasoned British soul singer Omar Lye-fook has been making music for over 30 years and comes from a highly accomplished musical family, notably his younger brother, Scratch Professor. "Ordinary Day" is a groovy soul track with heavy Brazilian percussion, and a ridiculously funky bass line

21/12/2017

I Really Don't Care - Bilal

I Really Don't Care - Bilal
Last track of the year is a funky, carefree track from the great Bilal and producer Adrian Younge.
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I can't think of a better track title for the Music to Forget Your Troubles playlist than "I Really Don't Care." This track from Bilal is off of his 2015 album, "In Another Life." I'm also a huge fan of the producer of this album, the prolific Adrian Younge, who also played a maj

13/12/2017

Montara - Bobby Hutcherson

Montara - Bobby Hutcherson

Happy Wednesday! Added to the list this week, a chilled out jazz and Latin track by the legendary Bobby Hutcherson.
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Bobby Hutcherson was a great jazz vibraphonist, one of the many great artists we lost last year. "Montara" is from Hutcherson's album of the same name, released in 1975 on the jazz label Blue Note. Montara is also a city in Northern California, where he lived with his wife until his passin

08/12/2017

That Miserable Man Milligan - Harris Cole

Enjoy the laid back, dreamy beats from Chicago producer Harris Cole.
That Miserable Man Milligan - Harris Cole
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In the mood for a beat instrumental next on this playlist, I decided to add this laid back track by young Chicago-based producer Harris Cole. I came across Harris Cole's music on a playlist of beats on Spotify. This track is off of his late 2016 release, "Pause."

29/11/2017

Celebrate - Tony Allen

Celebrate - Tony Allen
Incredibly groovy and uplifting track from the 2009 Secret Agent album, from drumming legend Tony Allen. Dance, sing along, and celebrate your life.

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This track is pure happiness and celebration of life. Legendary Afro-Beat drummer Tony Allen was Fela Kuti's drummer for many years, and eventually put out several albums under his own name. Allen's love of jazz and upbringing in Nigeria led him to fuse jazz and Yoruban rhythms to build the foundati

24/11/2017

Season of Changes - Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band

Season of Changes - Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band
A beautiful tune, mixing jazz and classical music, perfect for this time of year.
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Brian Blade is one of my all-time favorite drummers, and overall musicians, and musicians and music fans all over the world agree. I've had the opportunity to see Brian Blade perform on several occasions, and it is a performance not to be missed.

16/11/2017

Slightest Right - Makaya McCraven

Slightest Right - Makaya
Added to the playlist this week, the improv heavy, genre crossing jazz music from bandleader and drummer Makaya McCraven. This song is from an album released in 2015, but Makaya is currently out on tour supporting his latest release.
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I absolutely love drum-focused instrumental music, improvisation, and seeing a drummer as a bandleader. This week's track, "Slightest Right," is from Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven, and it checks off all three of those boxes. ...

08/11/2017

Never Catch Me - Flying Lotus

Never Catch Me - Flying Lotus
Take this mind-expanding journey through jazz, electronic, break beats with Kendrick Lamar's rhythmically and conceptually acrobatic raps taking it to that next level.

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This track by acclaimed producer Stephen Ellison, better known as Flying Lotus, with genius Kendrick Lamar, is a single from the 2014 album "You're Dead!" The title comes from the desire of Ellison and collaborator Thundercat, an amazing bassist and producer in his own right, to create mus

03/11/2017

Ooooo - Braxton Cook

Ooooo - Braxton Cook

This track is off of the album "Braxton Cook Meets Butcher Brown," released in 2015. The vibes, groove and musicality of this band will put a smile on your face and allow you to lose yourself in the music.
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Here's a track from another talented saxophonist, Braxton Cook, which will put you in the mood to just chill and vibe and say "ooooo." A friend of mine introduced me to Braxton's music a few months ago and I haven't found a track of his that I didn't like. He is definitely a young mu

27/10/2017

The Rhythm Changes - Kamasi Washington

This track lays down a jazz, funky groove while reminding us that the rhythms of our lives will always be changing. Take a listen to some of the best young west coast jazz musicians. Click on the image to listen and read more
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Kamasi Washington is a Los Angeles native who has brought jazz to a whole new generation of listeners. He is a phenomenally talented saxophone player who has toured with big name acts, and is now touring under his own compositions with his own band, the West Coast Get Down, a collective of y

24/10/2017

Young Embrace (Um Abraco Da Mocidade) - Azymuth

Young Embrace (Um Abraco Da Mocidade) - Azymuth
Nice Brazilian fusion instrumental track by this legendary group. No lyrics needed; this song will sweep you away with it's enticing groove.
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Azymuth, from the 70’s funk fusion era in Brazil, brings such a strong groove and harmony that it’s hard to believe it’s only a trio. The song starts with a simple - but unbelievably groovy - organ line, and it gradually and mysteriously builds until the end.

20/10/2017

What It Is - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

What It Is - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Love this super funky track from the talented Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. The lyrics and vibe are perfect for the playlist.
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The quick drum fill brings us right into one of this funky Chicago brass ensemble’s own brand of “now music.”

18/10/2017

North Gate - Ohbliv

North Gate - Ohbliv
Vibe out with this laid back track from prolific beat producer Ohbliv. Be sure to check out his full catalog on bandcamp. Perfect for days when you need to chill, work, study, or zone out.
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Virgina/DMV producer Ohbliv has made a name for himself, placing mesmerizing r’n’b grooves on a loop with his own laid back beats.

12/10/2017

Turnin Me Up - BJ the Chicago Kid

Enjoy this funky, laid back tune for your Wednesday! This jam definitely will turn you up!
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Just as the title suggests, the music turns up the listener’s energy level while delivering a slow laid back dance groove. BJ’s rich falsetto vocals are reminiscent of the Reverend Al Green.

10/10/2017

Energy - Iman Omari

Nothing but "good vibes and energy" on one of my favorite Iman Omari tracks. His smooth vocals perfectly complement his on point production. Slide into your day with this one:
Energy - Iman Omari
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Talented singer and producer Iman Omari declares, “if it’s not on your level, then why don’t you just let it be,” before the sweet trumpet line introduces the head-nod inducing beat.

09/10/2017

Summer Breeze - The Isley Brothers

Get carried away with this classic jam by the legendary Isley Brothers. The funky drums and bass, rock guitar, and soulful vocals transport me to a place where the "summer breeze makes me feel fine..."
Summer Breeze (Parts 1&2) - The Isley Brothers
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Soundsgood

This classic jam by the legendary Brothers starts off with a smooth piano intro, then slowly builds up with the electric guitar. By the time the drums bring the groove together, the refrain, -“summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine of my mind” - has us hooked, and fee