Hot on the heels of his long time coming debut EP on wax for Washington D.C. label Future Times and his self released reflective and jazz/soul infused RELIEF 3 EP, both released on Juneteenth, prolific Bronx, New York City DJ and producer Kush Jones has released the 10th volume in his genre defying DJ tools driven Strictly 4 My CDJZ series. The diversity in intent, approach and style between all three releases speaks volumes not only for the forensic knowledge and musical intellect Jones brings to the creative table, it also speaks to his insistent work ethic and diffuse and open approach.
The stylish Future Times EP with its left field blend of classic house, Detroit techno and world music and the topical RELIEF 3 with its classic soulful and jazz infused house samples and footwork inspired beats both come as different outward expressions in finished form. The DJ focused Strictly series however, in its immediacy and experimental intent, gives us a glimpse into the dexterous and flexible mind of an artist at work in real time.
Like its predecessors, the 10th volume sees the Juke Bounce Werk member again change tack, this time opting to explore the low end via a selection of funk samples and West African sounding rhythms, with opener ‘Air’, ‘One Oh Sixty’ and ‘Djembe Djam’ being cases in point. Elsewhere, melodies surge and glide in varying guises through the dual-laned mix on ‘Super E Break’ and offer up an almost out of body experience when juxtaposed with the jackin’ rhythms on ‘Need Some Room’.
On standout track ‘Pre-Club Workout’ Jones enlists the help of fellow JBW contemporaries DJ Swisha and James Bangura and together they provide the link for stratospheric synths to sit appropriately atop a grounded rhythm. The ideas and industry continue on the instructively named closer ‘Dance Music Tool’ as a techno motif combine with glassy pads bouncing proceedings to an abrupt but fit for purpose conclusion.
Jones intends his real time Strictly For My CDJZ series to extend out to 40 volumes so at number 10, this release puts the first quarter to bed. With such quality in the can already, on multiple levels what lies ahead is nothing short of a salivating prospect. Listen to Pre-Club Workout below and purchase Volume 10 here. Links to purchase the FT-055 and RELIEF 3 EP’s are further down.
Tracklist
1. Air
2. Pre-Club Workout (Feat. Dj Swisha & James Bangura)
3. Need Some Room
4. Super E Break
5. One Uh Sixty
6. Djembe Djam
7. Dance Music Tool
Pre Club Workout (feat. DJ Swisha & James Bangura)
Kush Jones (USA)
From the EP, ‘Strictly 4 My CDJZ 10’, Self Released.
Kush Jones – EP ( Future Times) – Buy here.
‘Earth Note’ from EP (FT055) by Kush Jones is now playing here in our New House Playlist on Spotify.
Kush Jones – RELIEF EP (Self Released) – Buy here
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