Nate Smith and DJ Harrison unleash a soulful groove "JUKE JOINT"

Nate Smith, Virginia-born drummer and producer, has returned for another groove clinic in the form of his recent single "Juke Joint," a barnburner duet with an all-star aggregation of jazz, blues, and soul lions. Following the buzz of his previous tracks, "Automatic" with Lalah Hathaway and "Magic Dance" featuring Lionel Loueke and Michael League, Smith now offers a glimpse into a world that fuses thoughtful allure with contemporary style.

"Juke Joint" immerses audiences in a warm, vintage sound, featuring Rhodes keys that blend perfectly with protruding bass lines, juxtaposed against jazz chords. At the same time, a Dilla-inspired drum break breathes an infectious rhythm that simultaneously beckons movement. At the heart of Fiolanda lies a rhythmic conversation between yesterday and today, a masterful tapestry woven by some of the most revered musicians in contemporary practice. Smith's dream of a speakeasy vibe comes to life in this room, where music serves as both a haven and a source of festivity.

Jermaine Holmes, vocalist and member of D'Angelo's Vanguard band, adds texture and soul to this groove, as his falsetto glides above the detailed instrumental layers. Enter vocalist Khari Cabral, endowed with a grace and intimacy in his singing that complements the blooded yang hedged between Charlie Hunter's guitar stylings, yes, he is that edgy of a blues virtuoso, and 2x GRAMMY-nominated DJ Harrison on every instrument imaginable. With that, they created a mixture of sounds as seamless in artistry and tribute to musical performance tradition as it is boundless.

Muddy meets Dilla is how Nate Smith describes the track, beautifully blending the grit of blues and the rhythmic ingenuity of hip-hop. It's collaborative in a way that makes the connections between each artist feel seamless, not with seven unique verses warring against one another. In the end, they forged not merely a song but a direct image of the living DNA of music, jazz, blues, and soul, all adjacent to 21st-century production finesse.

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