Crate Digging: Pasha Orleans-Foli, Creative Music Consultant

Pasha Orleans-Foli, creative music consultant at DLMDD, discusses her top two finds from Concord Label Group.

Black Radio III by Robert Glasper

My frontline album has to be Black Radio III by Robert Glasper. I first discovered his music in my mid-teens while diving into Thom Yorke’s solo work and his project Atoms for Peace. During that time, I stumbled upon Glasper’s instrumental cover of Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place," fused with Herbie Hancock’s "Maiden Voyage." Jazz has always been a huge part of my upbringing, so this fusion blew my mind, merging two favourite tracks from completely different worlds. From then on, I immersed myself in Glasper’s discography, resonating with the Black Radio series and albums like ArtScience and Dinner Party.

Black Radio III feels like the culmination of Glasper's career—an undeniable fusion of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and soul. It’s the next step in the musical conversation he began with previous Black Radio albums, featuring incredible artists like Erykah Badu, Brandy, Jill Scott, and Common. This series celebrates Black excellence, allowing each artist's unique talent to flourish within Glasper’s harmonically rich soundscape. 

H.E.R.'s "Better Than I Imagine" beautifully captures this, exuding heartfelt vulnerability and sweet emotional tones. Yebba’s stunning performance on “Over” stands out for me, with Glasper recognising her as a voice to be reckoned with following her emergence in 2017. Esperanza Spalding’s contribution also shines, reminding me of her brilliance on Nubya Garcia’s newest album Odyssey, which I've also had on repeat.

This album exemplifies the power of musical unity and storytelling, offering layers of meaning and mood that naturally have the power to capture moments in contemporary shows like Bel-Air and Insecure that opened up new opportunities for Black musicians within their sonic landscapes. I’d love to see more genre fusion in advertising, with brands willing to take more risks. Glasper’s work reminds us of the profound impact music can have when grounded in purpose and passion.

Chet by Chet Baker

I’ve always been captivated by crooner jazz vocalists with that indescribably cool tone—think Mel Tormé and Sarah Vaughan. So, discovering Chet Baker’s instrumental album Chet was a delightful surprise, especially since I was more familiar with his vocal renditions of classics like "My Funny Valentine" and "I Fall in Love Too Easily" from Chet Baker Sings, released just three years prior.

Chet invites listeners into the heart of Baker’s musicianship, showcasing his trumpet’s lyrical quality that beautifully mirrors the emotional depth of his singing voice. Tracks like "September Song" highlight this connection, with Baker breathing life into every note through his rich, expressive sound. The album captures him in a moment of introspection, and his haunting yet gentle tone encourages appreciation of the nuances in his instrumental dialogue.

His playing is accompanied by the legendary Bill Evans on keys, who truly mastered the art of simplicity in his own music. Evans creates an atmosphere that allows the music to breathe—an aspect often underestimated in jazz. I’m often drawn to these quieter moments rather than the noodles of complex improvisation that can sometimes dominate the genre. While those can be exciting, it’s equally important to emphasise moments where every note feels intentional, much like Evans’s "Peace Piece."

The endless possibilities and ever-evolving nature of jazz make it an exhilarating genre for visual storytelling. Just look at films like Whiplash and Baby Driver to see its cultural impact. Why does jazz have to be viewed as a dusty relic of the past? Brands like Lurpak have embraced this, drawing inspiration from Whiplash for their 2015 ‘Freestyle’ ad, channeling the uninhibited rhythmic chaos of improvisation to encourage adventurousness in cooking. Shouldn’t brands challenge themselves and their audiences by exploring their attributes in innovative ways? To me, music is and always will be the most powerful and enjoyable medium to explore this.

If you’d like to know more, or you’re keen to discover more of our repertoire, please contact: labelsyncuk@concord.com.