Miles Davis, Robert Glasper feat. Erykah Badu: Maiysha (So Long)

Robert Glasper—longtime crusader of liberating jazz and its players from rigid definitions—took samples from Miles Davis’ archive (predominately his later electric years) and collaborated with the likes of Laura Mvula, Hiatus Kaiyote, Stevie Wonder and John Scofield to create the unique and contemporary tribute album Everything’s Beautiful. Erykah Badu not only lends her voice in drum machine-led bossa nova song “Maiysha (So Long)” but also …

Portishead: SOS (ABBA Cover)

In an exhilaratingly dark version of ABBA’s “SOS,” Portishead’s Beth Gibbons brings an immense heartbreak to the Swedish group’s 1975 pop song. The cover is a tribute to Jo Cox (a Batley and Spen MP who fought for refugees’ rights) who was murdered last week outside a library. In this context, and in this downtempo version, the song carries much more weight, pain and sorrow. …

Thundercat: Song For The Dead

It’s been exactly one year since Thundercat’s six-track album The Beyond / Where The Giants Roam (featuring the poignant, sad-funk song “Them Changes”) was released, and with the anniversary comes a new music video. “Song For The Dead” was drawn by Ryan McShane—who met Thundercat via Twitter—and blends NASA footage with animations of the caped musician, a pack of wolves, and his trusty bass guitar. …