As 2021 comes to a slow close, the thought of being treated to even more musical releases still brings excitement especially when it’s being delivered by the likes of The Jazz Defenders, Bristol’s finest soul-jazz brothers that are really growing and becoming a name that you should know. Coming off of their recent summer release, the outfit have returned to bless our ears and dance floors once again with their latest single, “Live Slow” which maybe the title but after after pressing play we wanted to get up and work up a sweat to the beautiful jazziness.
Bobbing and weaving with a heavy bounce, Live Slow shines bright in a mid-late 60’s soul-jazz fashion which in itself is very hard to duplicate in an authentic fashion but they absolutely pull it off. Channeling the energy of greats likes Ramsey Lewis and Herbie Hancock, the new single checks all of the right boxes which tickles our fancy and brings a rather big smile. A funky backbeat, in-the-pocket baseline, snappy and sharp brass, soul claps and infectious piano helps to tie everything together but it’s the guest appearance by MC Herbal T who steps into the booth which adds the bow on top to make it a prize. Hearing the Hip Hop x Jazz connection in this way has us reminiscing over the 90’s experimental era of when both of those worlds collided and makes us realize that when you have seasoned musicians like George Cooper (of Haggis Horns) involved, it can only come out as something special.
If The Jazz Defenders 2019 debut LP is any inclination of what to expect from their forthcoming second album “King Phoenix”, then we’re in for a jazzy good treat that will carry us well into 2022 and beyond. As always, big thanks to Willwork4funk for hipping us to something great!
“Live Slow” drops digitally November 26th via Haggis Records.