RollnSmokeRecords: New Innovative Music

1. “Shot in the Back of the Head” – Moby [6-30-09]. Evocative instrumental that is at once indie-angst and moody at its core.

2. Chillaxin” – Marcus Johnson [6-2-09]. Smooth jazz keyboardist lays out an instrumental contemporary R&B jazz track.

3. “Shakhkin” (The Unity of Diversity Remix) -- Omar Faruk Tekbilek [6-9-09]. Evocative, original and exotic remix of Sufi-inspired music from Turkish-born musician.

4. “Smooth Criminal” – (Michael Jackson) – David Garrett [6-2-09]. German violinist tackles the late King of Pop’s ferocious track with instrumental gusto.

5. “Auditorium” – Mos Def [6-09-09]. Gritty, underground hip-hop that’s really musical stream-of-consciousness but at the same time pulls off a curious and compelling harmony.

6. “Lead Me Jesus” – Greg O’Quin & IPraize [4-14-09]. Plain, soulful, “old time” gospel jam.

7. “Move On Up” – Richard Elliot [5-19-09]. A groovin’ jazz sax instrumental that’s bound to get your movin’ to the grooving from Scottish-born smooth jazz artist who was raised in L.A.

8. “Song Up in Her Head” – Sarah Jorosz [6-1-09]. 18-year old contemporary bluegrass prodigy launches debut album with this plucky title track.

9. “All I Ask” – Grizzly Bear [5-26-2009]. Experimental, indie pop group out of Brooklyn creates strange, winding Journey-of-a-song.

10. “When I Grow Up” – Fever Ray [3-31-09]. An astonishing new experimental solo project debut by young Swedish artist filled with icy electroniac atmospheres.

11. “Rite of Passage” – Roy Rogers [4-21-09]. From Blues legend’s most recent album, a saxophone –dominated instrumental by band member Brooks rocks into a bluesey jazz piece.

12. “Elitsa’ – Tosca [4-28-09]. A down-tempo, ambient trip-hop number by a master duo in the genre.

13. “Dark Bubbles” – Black Moth Super Rainbow [5-19-09]. An enigmatic, trippy track featuring synthed-out vocals from indie group out of Pittsburgh.

14. “Struggling with My Baby” -- Brian Blade [4-21-09]. Jazz musician from Louisiana– drummer, singer-songwriter and bandleader – is behind beautiful, instrumental track from his latest album.

15. “Riffin’ Ed” – Medeski Martin & Wood [4-14-09]. Like all of this modern jazz trio’s wildly eclectic album, their latest is the same and features this classic juke joint piano track.

16. “Cello Song” –The Books feat. Jose Gonzalez [2-16-09]. A lovely cover of the soothing original performed by The Books who concoct an original acoustic version featuring Jose Gonzalez’s dreamy vocals for the DARK WAS the NIGHT Red Hot compilation CD which sports an all-star indie line-up of artists and songs.

17. “Throw Down Your Heart” – Bela Fleck [3-3-09]. The banjo virtuoso journeys to discover his instrument’s African roots in the title track to his latest album (and to Sascha Paladino’s 2008 documentary!).

18. “Lamine’s Tune” – Toubab Krewe [1-13-09]. By blending American Rock with West African Musical Traditions, this instrumental quintet from Asheville, North Carolina, comes up with a truly original sound. In fact, all of the previously un-released tracks from their latest album LIVE AT THE ORANGE PEEL are groovin’, laid-back jams you can dance to.

19. “My Favorite Things” – Yo Yo Ma featuring Chris Botti [10-14-08]. Interpretive instrumental featuring Ma’s spectacular cello with a jazz-like take on the beloved original.

20. “Violet Stars Happy Hunting” – Janelle Monae (featuring The Skunks) [8-12-08]. One of several oddball, Broadway-like tracks from a Big Boy Records-backed eclectic album as performed by this experimental female hip-hopper out of ATL.