The Goodness: Reflections by Nstljk! "Esthero Radio"

            I was initially going to write my blog post on acid jazz. I was going to assert that acid jazz is a product of the United Kingdom over a period of 20 years from the 1980's to the late 1990's as a result of looped jazz, funk and hip-hop elements. I was going to inform you that jazz music (or jazz elements) could be fused with electronic dance or drum-and-bass to bring acid jazz to life. I was also going to credit artists like jazz-funk composer Roy Ayers, Indian-born singer-songwriter, Asha Puthli and jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd with being the forefathers (and foremothers) of acid jazz. Instead, I chose to take you on a trip (pun most definitely intended) to open Pandora's box and share with you the endless array of hidden jewels from a genre of music so obscure that it never sees the light of day unless you summon it and its young scions.

            

            Everyday is a masterpiece or a lifelong scourge - depending on whom you ask. To me, life is but a Magnum Opus trying to tell me many different things in many different ways. Whether my day was filled with work, or hip-hop, or my band, or school, or my friends, I come here to escape it all. I still don't know what to properly call this place. As a matter of fact, I don't think the curators know what to call it themselves because unlike many others they do what comes natural to them; they do it without needing to be labeled.
            Shouldn't we call it trip-hop? I mean, you can place any kind of vocalization and instrumentation over a phat hip-hop beat with a healthy bass line; everybody likes a nice phat hip-hop beat and a healthy bass line! Why isn't it called neo-soul? It should be since it's got the funkiest, most passionate guys and gals with the wickedest chops all in one place. I only call it acid jazz because where else can you find the most complex genre of music made up of the most corrosive qualities in musical nature? I do not know what or how you would call it; I stopped trying to figure that out long ago. I just know the sound of it; how sweet the sound when I hear it.
            It doesn't have a name; it doesn't have a face. It's small in stature, built at the edge of the music world. All I know is that it's a little ol' lounge called Esthero Radio over on Pandora named after a beautiful Canadian vocalist that I was too scared to ask to the prom many moons ago. Since you're here, why don't you stay a while and I'll show you around? You can sample the flavors of the day and go from room to room until you find something you like. Oh, and one more thing. There's no clapping at the end; a simple thumbs up or thumbs down shall suffice. Don't fight the feeling; your heart wants what the ears will set their eyes on.
            What is this I hear? This must be Amy Winehouse singing "Stronger Than Me". My musical menagerie is far and wide and there's no doubt that its eclecticism is taboo. Say what you will about Amy but one thing is for sure. Amy is as solid as any artist that ever did it, God bless her little heart. I know she's got a place for me up there, I sure hope so because that girl's got soul! Let's move along.

            Look who it is! John Mayer, I didn't expect to find you here today! "I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)" is funky, it's warm, it's rhythmic and it's got all the jazz you need in one place. John, your songs are biopics for the masses that reach people on a worldwide scale but it's so refreshing seeing you crossover to little old us. Stop by anytime!
            Ah, yes! It's Lily Allen! Come quick, let me introduce you to somebody I know. Lily comes all the way from London, that girl does. In fact, she's the daughter of British actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. Right now, she's singing "Friend of Mine." That Lily is a firecracker, let me tell you. Songs like "The Fear", "Not Fair" and "F You" each represent something different about her life; subject matter edgy and unforgiving to say the least. This is why I like Esthero Radio so much. You hear all this great music from people who love what they do and do what they feel spur of the moment with little to no regard of what they think people will say about their work.
            And there she is. The main stage; it's Esthero herself. "Strong as an earthquake, bright as a shining star. I remember the fragrance; I just couldn't believe I'd come so far for." When nobody's looking, she takes me down her Fastlane. "Would you let me lick you with alliteration and tie you up with similes? Give you pain and pleasure with soliloquies until you beg me for release. I think we could have the ebonic plague solution. Lace me with your lexiconic seed and in nine months we could start to raise the revolution." Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell so you'll just have to see for yourself how this one ends, friend. Go on. Get out there and create an escape for yourself. The world will be a much better place for it. You'll see.