Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Gabriel Teodros, host of Early on KEXP, is "Jazz Is Dead (Georgia Anne Muldrow Geemix)" by The Midnight Hour, from the 2021 album Remixes JID010 on Jazz Is Dead
As The Midnight Hour, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (DJ and co-producer of A Tribe Called Quest) and composer Adrian Younge collaborate with a long list of incredible musicians to make a fusion of soul, jazz, and hip hop that’s inspired by the sophisticated sounds of yesteryears. Their acclaimed 2018 self-titled debut was star-studded featuring the likes of features from CeeLo Green, Raphael Saadiq, Marsha Ambrosius, Bilal, Eryn Allen Kane, Karolina, and more.
In 2020, the duo expanded their reach by creating the imprint Jazz Is Dead, where “younger artists are elaborating upon conversations started decades ago; jazz icons are utilizing vintage equipment to create new masters with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad; the same equipment that recorded their coveted catalogs.” In the past two years, they’ve released 10 albums of recordings that take on the scores of composers past to bring into the present.
As the final chapter in the initial run of Jazz Is Dead releases, Remixes JID010 continues the creative catharsis of an exhilarating new chapter in jazz music. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad tapped nine iconic creators to reimagine their personal favorites from Jazz Is Dead’s catalogue to-date, who created striking new versions of songs by Marcos Valle, Roy Ayers, Gary Bartz, Azymuth, João Donato, Doug Carn, Brian Jackson and The Midnight Hour. Holding the line taut like a bass string, Younge & Muhammad only invited those special musical alchemists who have previously participated in Jazz Is Dead happenings, or those who are slated to share that stage soon.
Our Song of the Day sees the prolific songwriter, rapper, musician, singer, and producer Georgia Anne Muldrow take on the title track of the series and label, “Jazz Is Dead.” Muldrow’s version completely reinvents the jazzy and percussion-heavy original into a slinky trip-hop track with the lyrics stretched out and lingered on in serpentine fashion. Sparkling electronic glitches and synth keys replace the brass, drums, and piano of the original, for a smooth, contemporary imagining of the song.
