Best of Mixes
I like listening to new music. When I hear something I like, I want to hear it again. To catalog this, I create a Best Of 20XX mix where I put all the songs I want to hear again. I’ll put those master mixes up on this site eventually. Starting for 2023, I began to curate smaller portions of these mixes into 20 track mixes that are ordered in a meaningful way to make for a more digestible listen. Click on the artwork, you’ll get the Apple Music link but Spotty users fear not, click the icon below the artwork. I hope you enjoy!
Part 1
One of my favorite tracks from an EP released by Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter featuring my favorite drummer of all time, Nate Smith. This mix showcases a little country including a rockin’ tune by Chris Stapleton followed by one I think is a really strong deep track by Miley Cyrus. Lucas de Mulder dropped a great album collaborating with the UK’s The New Mastersounds which leads some funky jazz into Afro-funk. In memorium, New Orleans legend Dr. John had an album filled with solo piano works, I really loved this track inspired by other New Orelans legend Professor Longhair. This mix closes off with some interesting electronic music.
Part 2
Wanted to kick off with some rock, Smashing Pumpkins released a really strong (and long) album. DeWolff continues to rock some great vintage sounds. Cimafunk adds some fun to a funky tune by Galactic. Dan Wilson dropped one of the best jazz albums of the year, which features an interesting mix of genres. KNOWER dropped an incredible album showcasing Louis Cole’s drumming chops, followed by a taste of the Easy Star All-Star’s cover of a classic David Bowie album.
Part 3
Started somewhat unconventionally with a slower cover that builds nicely and hopefully captures the appropriate emotion of being present right here, right now. Then a line of bangers kicked off with Lack of Afro. I couldn’t help but include additional contributions from some of my favorite albums from KNOWER, Thumpasaurus, and Raze Regal & White Denim, with some New Wave continuity from Blink 182. Jazz guitarist Matt Stevens, oft contributor to some of Esperanza Spaldings best work, contributes a strong effort on Walter Smith III’s album demonstrated with a track here. Then some funky jazz into one of my favorite artists right now, Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy. Capped off with some country vibes from Stapleton, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), and Instagram guitar sensation Daniel Donato.
Part 4
The Allergies provide the same high energy instrumentalist Hip-Hop that reminds me of Lack of Afro. I absolutely love Genesis Owusu’s combination of punk, funk, and hip-hop; he is carving out a very unique sound and I hope he continues to produce interesting and exciting music. The Meters legendary bassist George Porter put out an incredible funk album with an allstar cast including Nikki Glaspie, Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), and Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars). Eddie 9V with some dirty NOLA funk, then another great jazz funk band who have been working with a lot of contributors lately, Scary Pockets. Dan Wilson with another strong track, then the mix segues into some electronic tunes, funk, and finally a rock segment. I loved the stringing some rockin female leads in Dolly, Judith Hill, Margo Price, and Molly Tuttle, which sugued nicely into bluegrass jedi, Billy Strings. The last 3 songs are all about partying and feelin’ good. I hope this mix did that for you.
Part 5
Mix starts with two aggressive rock songs with female leads, leading into some stadium rock with a great song by the Foo Fighters (so glad they’re making more music!). Foo guitarist Chris Shiflett is featured after his band, then some strong funk contributions. The Allergies bring a Latino-flared hip hop song that leads nicely into the Calypso standard St. Thomas, with a fun contribution from Cimafunk (did I mention yet how fun he is?). We’re in the World Music section, with Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy, I cannot tell you how much Joy his Sounds give me. Okay, it’s a lot. Post Malone dropped a solid pop sounding album with some good catchy tunes. I liked this track particularly because it has unique chord cadences not heard often in pop. Have to squeeze in more Scary Pockets, Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter (Feat. Nate Smith). Beck & Phoenix dropped a cool single, followed by one track from the Chemical Brothers from a very enjoyable album also featuring Beck. Finally, one last track from KNOWER and to cap it off, Louis Cole goes back to back (like Beck, and Chris Shiflett ^^, notice a theme here?) with a feature in a great Cory Wong tune to cap this mix off.