Listen to two songs from PHL bassist Derrick Hodge’s new LP The Second
Looking ahead at the album release calendar for the final third of the year, it seems that 2016 is shaping up to have a great autumn in the local jazz scene. Fresh Cut Orchestra is dropping Mind Behind Closed Eyes on Ropeadope (read Shaun Brady’s interview here), Orrin Evans is releasing #knowingishalfthebattle on Smoke Sessions Records (listen to the song “Chiara” here), and then of course there’s renowned Philly bassist Derrick Hodge.
In September, he appears as a player on the much-anticipated ArtScience LP from Houston pianist and producer Robert Glasper – who, while not a local, certainly collab’s with a lot of Philadelphians and has a strong following in the 215. But equally exciting is Hodge’s latest solo outing, The Second, which comes out this Friday, August 26th, on Blue Note Records.
From the couple of songs that are already floating around out there on the internet, it sounds like Hodge is continuing along the path he forged with 2013’s Live Today – one foot planted in groove soundscapes with broad appeal, the other stretching boldly into more experimental territories. The morphing tones of the title track rock an expansive, atmospheric groove that recalls some of Tortoise’s post-rock work; by comparison, “Clock Strikes Zero” incorporates textural elements and rhythms from space-funk, dub and electronic music.
On Live Today, there was a prominent appearance of hip-hop, with Common showing up to spit a verse; we can’t wait to hear if this is an element of the full-scale version of The Second as well.
Below, listen to those two tracks from the album, and grab yourself a pre-order on Amazon or iTunes.
The Second tracklist
The Second
Transitions
Song 3
You Believed
World Go Round
Heart Of A Dreamer
Underground Rhapsody
Clock Strike Zero
For Generations
Don Blue
Going
From Me To You