Steve Onkonski steers the Jazz Underground somewhere between soul and cinematic minimalism
This month, I’m really excited to share that pianist and composer Steve Onkonski takes over the playlist with 10 new tracks to the Jazz Underground. The past few years has seen Onkonski and his trio quietly leading the genre into new territory. Their flavor of jazz is meditivate, introspective, soulful, and cinematic. Their music creates a mood… a texture. Each track conjures up a visual story in my mind.
With his playlist, Steve gives us an insight to some of the artists that he draws inspiration from. Artists like Sam Wilkes, Misha Panfilov, Phil Cook, and The Bad Plus. Like his music, his selection for the playlist creates a sort of cinematic narative. Like this could be the soundtrack to something. There’s a sense of movement without urgency throughout. Tracks like “Moonscape Waltz,” “Mariposa,” and “Flying” send you up with energy and swagger. Then cuts like “Lost,” “Pêche II,” and “Appalachia Borealis” balance the energy out with something more introspective and gentle. The result is a collection of tracks that transport you.
But don’t take my word for it, stick this playlist on and have a listen:
If this is your first time listening to the Jazz Underground, here’s what you need to know: The Jazz Underground is a monthly feature where we enlist the musicians and producers who are pushing the boundaries of what jazz means to them. The idea is to change the perception of the genre’s rotten public image — a genre that can sometimes be stuck in the past rather than something that is always evolving. Every so often we invite a new resident artist to contribute and curate the playlist to reflect what jazz sounds like today.
Have a listen to the playlist, and if you like what you hear, make sure to follow the Jazz Underground playlist on Spotify.
