The 10 best jazz songs, according to FaltyDL

New York-based producer Drew Lustman, AKA FaltyDL, released his latest album ‘Hardcourage’ on Ninja Tune in January. A warm cocoon of house-y, garage-y tunes, the record reflected the long journey he’s been on from the roots of his musical career – roots which happen to be in experimental jazz. Lustman, who played in a jazz quartet as a teenager, has moved his own sound away from the introspective intricacies of the genre and embraced a more accessible, danceable sound – but you can still hear in his tracks the lingering fragments of experimentation and flair that he took his inspiration from, and that define his 10 favourite jazz songs (which you can hear below).

You can catch Drew live in London at Bethnal Green’s Oval Space on the 7th March. More information on that at the bottom of the page.

1. Miles Davis – Little Church (Live)
   Drew: “Just one resolve after the other for 3 minutes. I’m sorta surprised it came out of his electric period, its almost too tame for that time. But then you hear this whistle in the background and remember every single musician here was off their face on acid while recording this.”
   
2. Captain Marvel – Chick Corea & Return To Forever
   Drew: “I was playing upright bass for years in this funk band and all I was listening to was Stanley Clark. He moves faster on a double bass then most electric players do. And he’s accurate.”
   
3. Herbie Hancock – Sly
   Drew: “Completely accesible jazz funk for everyone, at its deepest layer the baddest shit ever, and on top your mother will understand it too. It may frighten her when your 16 and stoned in your room listening to it on repeat, but just remind her its only incense she is smelling.”
   
4. Azymuth – Jazz Carnival
   Drew: “Is this Jazz? I don’t know, maybe. It’s too good to be just one thing.”
   
5. Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus [Mingus explanations, restart]
   Drew: “Just an outtake, but you can hear Mingus’s drunk high ramblings. I like that, it was almost okay to be that off your head in a recording studio. I feel like now you may get kicked out on to the street. But if you are running the show like Mingus clearly was, then he may kick you out for not being high. I dunno just thinking out loud here. He also sings the melody impeccably, and I would be worried about drooling on myself.”
   
6. Eugene McDaniels – Freedom Death Dance
   Drew: “This is Jazz. I promise. Everybody wants happiness. Don’t sample this though, it’s been done many times by people more talented then you.”
   
7. Kenny Burrell – Cheeta
   Drew: “Everyone is high on this record.”
   
8. Roy Ayers – We Live in Brooklyn, Baby
   Drew: “Jazz. Everyone is high on this record.”
   
9. Ella Fitzgerald – A Tisket, A Tasket
   Drew: “I think this song is actually about vajayjay and penusus.”
   
10. Rashaan Roland Kirk – My Cherie Amour
    Drew: “There is a theme to all of this. Everyone was high. My mom will read this and text me immediately after. Mom, it’s okay, I’m doing fine. This one is amazing though, old classic through the lens of a strange man.”
    

FaltyDL will play at the Oval Space with Cobblestone Jazz and James Priestley on Thursday 7th March. Get discounted tickets for the event here.