It’s a truly remarkable occasion to report about a new release from Detroit and not only because of the geographical location, but because of Jon Dixon’s immense talent. Previously a member of Galaxy 2 Galaxy and Timeline collectives, Dixon has become a figurehead of the Detroit’s fresh wave and delivers fine moments of his UR-affiliated 4EVR 4WRD label.
The opener “On My Own” feels the heat in the firm grip of Detroit’s finest deep house. Relying on the support of Moodymann and saxophonist Kasan Belgrave, the vocal-backed track emits interstellar jazz vibes with occasional sax on both suave and savage percussion. Stronger sensations appear in “How We Get Down (In Detroit)” with gleaming pads and robust bass, to explore the Motor City by night, piano passages adding a jazzy touch. Featuring vocalist Britt Frappier and keyboardist Ian Fink, wholesome mover “Words Can’t Express” continues in a smooth way and after crossing the Atlantic, in two powerful edits of “Lisbon Nights” Dixon reproduces carnival mood when teaming up with the vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles.
In addition to Dixon’s skills, the release’s strength lies in inclusion of several outstanding musicians from the community, all that resulting in precious-than-gold grooves for spiritual fulfillment. Quoting the artist: “I feel that it is important for me as a musician to not only continue the rich culture and history of both jazz and electronic music but to also use my knowledge, theory and experience to combine the two and take both genres to the next level!”
In 2021, Dixon has also released an EP on Visions Inc and appeared on a few compilations of Upstairs Asylum and the EPM Music’s 20th anniversary sampler of house tracks.
Buy vinyl from Juno (UK)
Buy vinyl from Decks (DE)
Buy vinyl from Groovedis.com (US)