Memories & Hidden Grooves
Unpacking the Unexpected: A Jazz Mix from the Margins of MemoryThere’s a certain kind of magic in moving house. It’s chaotic, emotional, and sometimes surprisingly musical.
As boxes are filled, corners cleared, and long-forgotten shelves dusted off, the past starts to speak. Not loudly—but softly, rhythmically, through overlooked records and untitled playlists, CDs scribbled with dates, and digital folders tucked away under “someday.”
This weeks Jazz Matters mix, Boxes, Memories & Hidden Grooves, is a soundtrack to that process. It’s a celebration of rediscovery: of nu jazz pulses, spiritual grooves, cinematic textures, and improvisational surprises that had somehow slipped through the cracks—until now.
What’s in This Mix? As a mix, Boxes, Memories & Hidden Grooves flows like a journal entry: contemplative in places, ecstatic in others, and filled with the kind of sonic texture you can only get when memory meets music.There’s a gentle polarity here—between worldliness and intimacy, structure and space.
The mix leans toward jazz fusion, spiritual jazz, and global jazz—but it’s more about vibe than genre. Think forgotten fusion from Scandinavia, cinematic jazz-rock from Indonesia, soulful beat-led explorations, and the kind of live recordings that put you in the room.Whether you’re packing, unpacking, or just taking stock of the music that’s shaped you, this hour is designed to move with you.
The Global Pulse of RediscoveryWhat ties this mix together is not geography, but resonance. We’re traveling—from Manhattan temples to Stockholm stages—but the unifying theme is emotional reconnection. Jazz becomes the thread between past and present, inner space and wide open air.
From Indonesia:Dewa Budjana opens the mix with Manhattan Temple, a fusion epic that blends intricate guitar voicings with Western jazz-rock arrangements. It’s a song that straddles multiple borders and musical languages—and it sets the tone for what follows.
From Sweden:The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s rendition of Behind the Yashmak, featuring Esbjörn Svensson, Dan Berglund, and Magnus Öström, is a revelation. It’s not just a jazz piece—it’s a cinematic, orchestral reimagining of mood, memory, and melodic weight.
From Portugal to NYC:The Francisco Pais Lotus Project brings us Drake-ish, a track that plays like a memory half-remembered, full of head-nod grooves and subtle dissonance.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Warren gives us beat-driven warmth—bridging classic soul-jazz with modern production sensibilities.
Thematic Threads: Memory, Movement, and Musical Time TravelPacking is a strange ritual. You’re archiving your past and preparing for something new—but what soundtrack fits that duality?This mix emerged while surrounded by half-full boxes, stacks of records I hadn’t touched in years, and the bittersweet realization that some music isn’t forgotten—it’s just waiting. These tracks resurfaced like old postcards from a self you barely remember sending them.A few themes emerged organically:•
Rediscovery: Not just of the music, but of how it made me feel when I first heard it. That warmth, that pull—it’s still there.• Global conversations: Many of these artists come from different parts of the world, but they’re connected through a deep emotional fluency in jazz and improvisation.• Transitions: Every song on this list speaks to motion. Whether it’s the literal tempo or the sense of unfolding, the music moves
Track-by-Track Highlights, Let’s unpack the crate:•
Dewa Budjana – “Manhattan Temple”A masterclass in layered fusion, Budjana's track opens like a film. Sweeping but grounded, it's the kind of piece that invites deep listening and immediate repeat plays.•
Scott Kinsey – “Rave”Complex, angular, and dripping with electronic sheen, this track pushes the fusion envelope. Think Weather Report by way of late-night Berlin.•
The Greg Foat Group – “Mr Minor (Live)”Live recordings can be hit or miss—but this is pure energy. Foat’s band simmers with restraint before letting loose in minor key glory.•
Spirit in the Dark – “Switch”A darker groove here, almost noir-ish. Heavy on atmosphere, light on ego. An under-the-radar gem that captures tension and release beautifully.•
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra – “Behind the Yashmak”A haunting, string-laden journey with rare orchestral textures. The presence of Svensson, Berglund, and Öström adds weight and wonder.•
Francisco Pais Lotus Project – “Drake-ish”Loose and lyrical, it feels improvised but never aimless. The Portuguese guitarist paints in tones both blue and warm.•
Jeremy Warren – “Lost Friends” (feat. Dermel) Emotional storytelling via broken beats and lush harmonies. Appears twice in this mix—because one playthrough isn’t enough.•
Johan Leijonhufvud – “Feathers”A delicate interlude, as if floating between boxes. Scandinavian restraint meets deep melodic sensibility
Why This Mix Matters Now, If you’ve been following Jazz Matters, you’ll know that the mixes are always personal—but this one might be the most personal yet. It’s rooted in the physical act of sorting, boxing, and preparing for something new. But also in the spiritual process of acknowledging what shaped you musically.We don’t always need new music. Sometimes we just need to hear something old with new ears.This mix is that. A second listen. A rediscovery. A reminder that nothing truly good ever gets lost—it just waits.
Explore Further•
[Read: The Hidden History of Jazz Fusion’s Global Roots] – An earlier blog post on cross-cultural jazz evolution•
[About Jazz Matters] – My story, values, and why I do what we do