A World Within A Song

The Jazz Conduit

Chevanne Scordinsky

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Photo by Caio Silva on Unsplash

My friend and I were shooting the breeze in his office, venting about the volume of work and dearth of free time. Some days were endless. That day, I was checking in on him. It was the routine when I figured he’d hunkered down long enough with his nose in the business. He’d chat about idle things unrelated to work and I’d eagerly listen.

He pulled up a video on YouTube to show me an artist he was listening to: Yussef Dayes. He was an English jazz drummer who’s energetic, syncopated rhythms were very impressive. He looked young and sounded very good.

I’m the kind of friend who will at least give a recommendation a try. At some point later, I listened to “Love Is the Message”. I was instantly transported. I’d never heard anything like it and was carried away on every note.

The talented lineup included Alfa Mist, a keyboardist and producer, Mansur Brown on electric guitar, and Rocco Palladino, a bassist who’s father Giuseppe “Pino” Palladino has played with musicians from The Who to D’Angelo. Yussef is on drums.

Mansur is an absolute star on this track and drives the floating melody that has prompted a thousand replays. His guitar almost sounds like a steel pan and gives an upbeat feel. The transition to quiet thumping bass and drums gives some respite before returning the main melody for an electrified finish.

I have four favorite songs:

  1. “Epitaph”, King Crimson
  2. “Echoes”, Pink Floyd
  3. “Ligging at Louis”, Camel
  4. “Love Is the Message” Yussef Dayes, Alfa Mist, Mansur Brown, Rocco Palladino

The common thread in these songs is that these tracks are transcendent. They’re alive and deeply moving. “Echoes” has absolutely brilliant song-writing, a quote of which I actually have tattooed. “Epitaph” is a seminal progressive work that is an epic composition. I didn’t think there would be a track hovering in their stratosphere. While I am only a dabbler in jazz…

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