This week we have a guest playlist from Cassie Kinoshi
The hugely talented London-based composer, arranger and alto saxophonist is known for her work with jazz septet NÉRIJA, Afrobeat band KOKOROKO and her own ten-piece ensemble SEED. You can catch Kinoshi this coming Friday when she brings her SEED project back to Total Refreshment Centre.
For her exclusive Twistedsoul playlist, she has put together a playlist of influential and favourite tracks. There’s an impressive collection of wide-ranging music below. So, without further ado, over to Cassie…
“This playlist features five tracks that have influenced how I approach both composition and the alto-saxophone and five tracks that I’m digging at the moment.”
- Kiefer – Tubesocks
I love instrumental hip-hop influenced music and spent a lot of time checking out Nujabes and others like him throughout high school. I’m currently really digging this track by Kiefer and it’s been on repeat for days!
- Ariwo Ya – Bob Ohiri, His Ohuru Sounds
A lot of my compositions draw from parts of my heritage whether that be Caribbean or West African music and folktales from those areas. This Afrobeat tune has been a favourite of mine for years.
- Jackie McLean – On The Nile (Jacknife)
My all time favourite alto-saxophone player, the way Jackie McLean plays later in his career is so open and honest, especially on modal tracks like this – improvisation in it’s purest form!
- Hiatus Kaiyote – Laputa (Taylor McFerrin Remix feat. Anderson.Paak) (Recalibrations Vol. I)
I love this Hiatus Kaiyote song in particular because I’m a huge Studio Ghibli fan and adore this reference to the Miyazaki film. A lot of my own music references sci-fi books/films that I’m into too.
- Abdullah Ibrahim – Whowza Mtwana
Another huge inspiration of mine as a composer, this particular composition is a favourite of mine. The simplicity of his writing is always powerful and the big band arrangement of this tune from the album “Ekapa Lodumo” is incredibly stirring.
- Maurice Ravel – Une barque sur l’ocean (performed by Alexandre Tharaud)
My favourite classical composers are primarily French and Russians. I always make time to look at the scores as well as listen – there is so much beauty in this music. This composition from a collection of pieces called Miroirs is magical and really captures the essence of the ocean.
- Eric Lau – Earthing Out
I’ve recently been checking out a lot of Eric Lau’s early work as it’s always fascinating to hear how an artist has developed over time and this is one of the albums I connected to the most. This track from his release “Quadrivium” is amazing; I love listening to music inspired by literature as a lot of my own work is too.
- Jason Yarde – The Road To Your Heart
One of my favourite British alto players and composers, Jason Yarde has been a huge influence on how I approach composition and playing. Listening to both his classical works and jazz work is always inspiring!
- Sun Ra – Astro Black
I’ve only recently started to properly sit down and listen to Sun Ra’s discography and a lot of his large ensemble music mesmerises me. Presenting my own interpretation of Afro-futurism through my music has become really important to me and every composition Sun Ra writes is full of beautiful clashing textures that sweep you away.
- Talos – Oh Girl (feat. Poppy Ajudha)
There is a lot of great British produced music being created right now. This tune is captivating, especially how the vocals blend with the trumpet. I really admire featured vocalist Poppy Ajudha as both an artist and a person – she has a lot to say!
Big thanks to Cassie!
