“Fly Bye,” the lead single from California-born, LA-based producer B. Bravo’s upcoming Vizionz release, coming later this spring on Bastard Jazz, has all the ingredients he’s been acknowledged for by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Blue Note Records, and such: analog gear programmed to groove, smooth yesterday/tomorrow beats, and planetary jounce for days. With vocalist and longtime collaborator Reva Devito ardently painting a photo of zen above the clouds—”it’s just like magic at this elevation”—those lyrics cement a vibe, that on this plane, stands eternal.
In the same way that Daptone recast a new excitement with rare soul, Bastard Jazz is securing that refurbishment for the modern funk set. The label began as a home for jazz, funk, R&B, and Afro-Latin pursuits, and has progressed over the last several years into a solid residence where contemporary boogie pulls up on the regular. They’ve captured a stronghold, first introduced by DāM-FunK to the world, and become a vital component of Millennial culture. Take one whiff from the heavy hitters on this squad, you find out right quick, that this imprint makes low-end frequency a part of their spreadsheet template.
From numerous titles like 2020’s amicable Blasting Off by the ‘gear obsessed’ Buscrates to the Sweater Funk-approved Bay Area veteran duo The Pendletons and their 2019 heater 2 Steps Away, this BK label keeps that unrelenting bump on deck. Mobilizing a roster of artists who worship at the altar of Roger Troutman. These are analog synth aficionados and compact groove junkies who make joints that hit comparable to Luke Cage.
Giving bump-step freaks, of the slow grind persuasion, just enough space to calmy glide, this latest from B. Bravo (aka Adam Mori) is one of those cosmic funk slabs suitable for multiple moods. Does it kick off something crackin’ or soundtrack the end of that feel-good moment? “Fly Bye” drops tomorrow: Pre-order it while you sort things all out here.
