World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK): Album: “Music From The Mint Hotel”(2023)

Hakim Jamal-Music From The Mint Hotel
Nixon’s Priest
Based on a lilting 3/4 piano pattern, a jazzy and melancholy track with funky electric piano, acoustic guitar and moody saxophone solo.
Hunter S Thompson: “Father John McLaughlin revelled in his role as ’Nixon’s Priest’ (see “A Stroke Of Cheap Genius”) for about a month, but his start faded fast when it was discovered he was pulling down $25,000 a year and living in a luxury apartment at The Watergate. His superiors in the church were horrified… the Good Jesuit Father was planning to marry his girlfriend. McLaughlin disappeared very quickly and nothing has been heard of him since.”

Music From The Mint Hotel” is multi-instrumentalist, and composer Hakim Jamal aka Paul Ashley Wheatcroft`s new album, a musical spectrum that includes jazz-funk, soul, R&B, and hip-hop, all expertly blended to fit the concept based on an essay by famous Beat Generation writer Hunter S. Thompson, known for his book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” among his other best-sellers.

The album’s sonic construct gives the music an exquisite fluidity that take the listener on a cinematic journey through the stories of some fictional characters gathered during the (in)famous‘Mint 400’ Off-Road race. But one should not be familiar with Thopson’s writings to appreciate this wonderful album whose technical and artistic qualities deserve the superlative.

Each of the seventeen tracks stands on its own while seaminglessly integrated with the ensemble through a cohesive sound architecture that skillfully keeps an aesthetic balance between the retro flair and contemporary beats. Layers of instruments and vocal lines re-create the sound of the 60s along with “analog” retro vibes tastefully fused with deep seductive tempos sustained by lush bass lines.

Remarkably how the nostalgic feeling permeates the sonic ensemble as a whole, the composer built a creative bridge over time from today`s cultural perspective, and this is only one of the numerous aspects of the album that make listening to it an enjoyable listening experience.

Website CD Store

World Music Mix

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2022: Tony Adamo(USA)-Better Than Picasso At MidNite

Tony Adamo-Better Than Picasso At MidNite

ony Adamo(USA)-Better Than Picasso At MidNite

Well, the blue jeaned, floppy hat wearing singing street preacher Tony Adamo is back with a new upcoming album. Here’s the first single from it, “Better Than Picasso At Midnight”, which is essentially polishing, refurbishing, new engine adding remake of the classic “Better Than Anything” and machine shopped, chopped and hopped by Tony Adamo. The original lyrics are weaved into new stream of consciousness ones which include references and rhymes ranging from George Benson to Superfly. The music itself is a mix of CTI soul with a dash of disco, tasty Breezin’ guitar licks with a mix of wacka wooka by Chris Pimentel, Turrentine toned tenor treats from saxist Rob Sudduth and Crusading keys and beats from programmer Barry Schiffman. No one delivers street corner synchronized sermons like Tony A. Start passing the plate! by George W. Harris/Jazz Weekly
Website CD Store

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2022

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-Album: LA Night(2022)

Hakim Jamal(UK)-Neon Sign
Album: LA Night
Composer: Paul Ashley Wheatcroft
Label: TakingHead TV Recordings (2022)

Hakim Jamal-Neon Sign


The new album from Hakim Jamal is inspired by the work of the great and sadly underrated Japanese Jazz-Funk musicians of the 1970s and 80s. It’s Hakim’s most uptempo album today, comprised of mostly instrumental dance/disco music with some stunning individual solos.
Streaming CD Store Website

World Music Mix