Albums

 Urban jazz fans who love the bass will vibe especially well with the unique array of romantic and beach life inspired tunes on Kittle’s Jazz by the Sea EP. The lead single – and the most infectious, “in the pocket” among all these great tracks – is “She Fire”, which bursts forth with finger snap percussion and a bubbling bass melody that leads to an explosive hook with saxophonist Nick Stone- who later adds a sensual light funk solo. While the snappy bass and lively bass/sax interplay dominate, Kittle also includes playful synth colors atop the melody.

Kittle teaches us about sea life via the edgy funk energy of “Dueling Dolphins,” which shuffles and bounces along with Harasim’s jazzy piano and the bassist’s bubbly soulfulness alternating to create an alternating sense of laid-back breeziness and spirited activity (including a dazzling bass solo) that reflects the movement of the dolphins. Kittle admits that when he first moved to Florida, his initial  impressions of those “Playful Pelicans” was that they were uncoordinated and dorky. However, his mind quickly changed once he saw these beautiful, graceful creatures in flight – and was particularly fascinated with how they dip to just inches above the water. He opens his ode to them with a hypnotic swirling motif that approximates the tone of a jazz guitar, then eases into a moody mystical, easygoing flow highlighted by a bass melody. Then, as if to reflect the birds’ movement, he and Harasim heat up to a light funk vibe with tight basslines all while keeping the atmospheric mystery intact.

Engaging in more of the romantic ambience of life by the water, on “Remembering When,” Kittle and Harasim keep the mystical atmospheres flowing and include trippy synth textures, and a unique approach, with laid back bass and keys easing over Kittle’s snappy bass  driven acoustic guitar sounds. Later in the track, Harasim creates mystical, immersive synth water textures and Kittle reflects musically on the beauty and mystery of love. The closer, “Sunset Serenade,” picks up the pace with a strutting melodic bassline and a funked out electric guitar modulation and click percussion groove. With its minimal arrangement, it’s the EP’s best pure showcase of Kittle’s virtuosic skills.