Shake Ya Jazz

So in today’s climate, rap and hip-hop are the pop genre. Every few decades that climate changes. 70s disco and soul, 80s electronic & techno, 90s was a mixture of smooth melodies and hard lyrics, 00s was a balance of gangster rap and family dance, Yet the 2010s have been a tale of emotions. Insert Ella Mai, Drake, Summer Walker, Migos, The Carter’s.

However, what has essentially fallen to the wayside in almost every other decade has been JAZZ. The all American genre cultivated blues, rhythm, and classical into a genre of creation. Yes, the music of today’s climate has subtle hints of it,  but I’m convinced most have little exposure to instrumentation. So when jazz decides to rear it’s head into the music it’s this catchy taboo. The keys in Ella Mai’s “Trip” or the flute in Futures “Mask Off” may be the next memorable things behind their catchy hooks. Yet I believe those basic elements propelled those singles higher than a MIGOS “Walk It Like I Talk It”.

Although we love a good bop, music, like any living entity, needs soul. Hollow songs and anthems are good, but this period ff depression and bickering between men and women is due to the fact that melodies like The Isleys “Hello It’s Me” or even Jodeci’s “Cry For You” have somehow not entered the sounds of this decade. Every song is bitter, and in turn, our souls do not move.

What we are yearning for is that mindful and soulful music which lets us come together. Hints why “In My Feelings” was a smash it was no longer a ballad of dismissal but an acknowledgment that I care and want you. Do you think of me too?

As a culture, we are due for a song that can capture our feelings, and let’s be honest- I’ve done my last swag surf. Although it’s fun, we also need that back and forth compilation. Ella Mai’s “Trip” brought it, but we need more.

We need JAZZ, hard synthetic and thudding bass is fine but the elegance of Jazz was that it allowed for all parties to play together and sound beautiful. Percussion mixed with soft strings and defining brass made for composition.

JAZZ is and will forever be soul food and Sunday dinner. It is gumbo, cornbread, greens, and black-eyed peas. The backbone of many classics and hits reside on the foundation on which it’s built. So hopefully this summer we can get more of it, that way I can see all of that JAZZ shaking and some love stories coming together in the same mix.

– J. Hall

Hello,