Review: Blue Earth Sound - The St. Louis Sessions EP (DeepMatter Records)

Chicago based Blue Earth Sound have moved south, even, deep south to give us 'The St. Louis Sessions' and it's ....

Following on from the album 'Cicero Nights' (see review HERE), Blue Earth Sound,  know for as an experimental, cinematic jazz project led by composer James Weir have travelled from Chicago to St. Louis, Missouri with some friends and collaborators.

Centred around the newly built home studio of drummer and long-time collaborator Austin LeMoine, the single 'Chartreuse' featured local St. Louis horn players Jawaad Spaan and Josiah Burton and they manage to capture a rough Miles of a spiritual jazz with is in keeping with the 'live' vibe.

Apparently the session was less improv and more workshop; there's even a Wurlistzer in the studio!  And the 'Japanese Green' is nothing like the recent J-Jazz compilation (Vol 5 - see review HERE) as it's influence was 90s R&B but it's a special groove.

And talking grooves, 'Fresh Air' goes Big Band Dilla-esque whilst 'Missouri Midnight' has that late night crickets vibe and it's a shame it's not a longer track.

I don't know how they've done it but there's a special sound to this one that quite intoxicating - expect support in all quarters.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The St. Louis Sessions EP | Blue Earth Sound

Artist: Blue Earth Sound

Title:  The St. Louis Sessions EP

Release date: 19th  June, 2026

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Blue Earth Sound - Cicero Nights (Root Records)

Chicago based Blue Earth Sound is the place to explore 'Cicero Nights' - not as a Roman consulate rave up or as a town in North-East Illinois!

We already know from Tomorrow's Yearning (see review HERE) that the guys at Root Records love jazz OST beats a la KPM/de Wolfe/Creed Taylor along with Dilla/Madlib beats but James Weir's Blue Earth Sound project diggs even deeper into Chicago's jazz history.

Developed with the help of Dave Vettraino, the in-house engineer for International Anthem who, as a label, has recently been blessed by compilation madness as 'Gilles Peterson Presents International Anthem' with underground fee-jazz-soul-experimental gold like Carlos Niño, Damon Locks, Makaya McCraven, Jaimie Branch (RIP) and many more: far removed from Weir's rock-post punk band background.

So even more impressive that, even as a multi-instrumentalist, he's got such a cool jazz-focused album together with a little help from guests, notably Eamonn Prizy on flute/saxophone and particularly on 'Lovers Rock' and 'Half & Half'.

The single, 'Mariposa' and 'On The Court' have that downtempo feel that so fits his inspiration of, "I just wanted to make tunes that a DJ could pay at a Chicago bar like 'Danny's' at 8:30pm that would set a good vibe"; (Ed. perfect for the Futuristica Music Sessions on a Wednesday at 60MPC of old).

Don't be surprised to see these guys on one of Peterson's many projects.

PS. Danny's, 6021 S. Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

 

Artist: Blue Earth Sound 
Title:  Cicero Nights

Release date: 12th September, 2025

Label : Root Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Produced by Blue Earth Sound

Recorded and Mixed at The International Anthem Warehouse by Dave Vettraino

Additional Recording in Little Village by Jason Balla

Additional Recording at the Mango Pit by Joshua Wells

String Production by Austin Lemoine in St. Louis

Mastered by David Allen

James Weir - Piano [1, 2, 3, 8], Rhodes [3, 4, 5, 7, 8], Organ [1, 3, 4, 7], Wurlitzer [2, 6], Guitar [4, 5, 6, 7], Bass [1- 8], Slide Guitar [2], Synth [2]

Patch Romanowski - Drums [1- 8], Triangle [4]

Eamonn Prizy - Flute [1, 3, 4], Saxophone [2, 3, 6, 7, 8]

Will Miller - Trumpet [1, 2, 3, 5]

Michael Wells - Guitar [1, 3, 8]

Jackson Ramsey - Strings [1, 5]Alex Aguero - Percussion [4, 6, 7]

Joshua Wells - Percussion [3, 4, 6, 7, 8]

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