We Speak Music
Saxophonist Bernell Jones II Releases Jazz-Fusion Single ‘1979’
Memphis-born, New York-based saxophonist and composer Bernell Jones II has officially returned with his latest single, “1979.” A groove-heavy jazz fusion release featuring acclaimed keyboard virtuoso Julius Rodriguez, the track blends smoky late-night textures, lo-fi warmth, 1970s disco influences, and sharp modern jazz improvisation into a bold statement of Jones’s rapidly evolving artistic identity.
The origins of “1979” highlight an artist willing to let his music breathe and grow over time. Originally written during the isolation of the 2020 lockdown period, the track began inside Jones’s tiny New York bedroom as part of a raw, self-recorded Bandcamp project, with the multi-instrumentalist performing nearly every instrument himself.
Five years later, after developing a tight-knit live band and refining the arrangement on stage, Jones revisited the composition with a much grander sonic vision—one rooted in live collective chemistry, analog atmosphere, and expansive synth-driven grooves.
To bring this vision fully to life, he enlisted rising jazz innovator Julius Rodriguez, whose genre-defying musicianship and mastery of synthesis became a defining element of the final recording. Renowned for blending avant-garde jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and experimental electronics, Rodriguez delivers a signature synth solo midway through the track, elevating it into a rich, cinematic listening experience.
The song’s title is a direct nod to a monumental milestone in music history: the year Michael Jackson’s landmark album Off the Wall was unleashed, a record that profoundly shaped Jones’s musical upbringing.
“The title ‘1979’ pays homage to my favorite artist of all time, Michael Jackson,” Jones shares. “Off the Wall had a huge impact on me as a child and as a musician. I didn’t want to recreate that album sonically, but I wanted to capture the mood and the feel-good energy it gave me.”
That particular emotional spirit dictates the entire flow of the song. Funk-driven basslines, shimmering synth textures, fluid saxophone melodies, and an understated rhythmic swagger combine to create a soundscape that feels both nostalgic and distinctly modern—a jazz fusion record equally suited for analytical headphone listening, packed downtown clubs, or solitary late-night city drives.
Bernell Jones II has steadily emerged as one of the most compelling and relatable young voices in contemporary jazz, recognized not just for his elite musicianship but for his unique approach to audience connection. Alongside performing with heavyweights like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Olivia Dean, Eric Bellinger, and Philip Harper, Jones has built a substantial online following. His viral music-comedy content and documentary-style series, What It’s Like Being a Musician in NYC, offer an honest and humorous window into the unvarnished realities of a working modern musician.
His ambitious 2024 debut album, TYPEWRITER, showcased his overarching mission to bridge the gap between rigid jazz traditions and broader, genre-fluid audiences by seamlessly incorporating elements of gospel, blues, soul, and deep groove.
With “1979,” Bernell Jones II continues that trajectory, honoring the emotional legacy of the past while pushing jazz fusion into fresh, accessible, and deeply human territory. The final product is a track that feels entirely timeless, immersive, and unmistakably alive.
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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