Want to groove in a chilled out yet still funky way? Check out these reimagined live versions of a trio of Booty&theKidd songs. I suppose that “fleshed out” might be a better way to label these songs as the group has added a full band to back up their already enjoyable sound. But, have you heard of an 8-piece hip hop/jazz hybrid group in recent years?

I’m biased but in my world chilled out arrangements applied to genres seem to make everything better. One of the best days of my years as a music fan was the day I discovered dream pop. Similarly, Until The Ribbon Breaks showed me that it was possible to groove to a song along with some deep seated feeling I can’t really explain. Booty&theKidd makes use of jazz in the place of chillwave/electronica to continue this effect.

The trumpet was already a welcome addition to the band but the expansion to eight folks brings new life to the songs. The piano in “Futurama” has a new context, and is complimented well by the saxophone parts. “50/50” has an effect underlying the whole arrangement that feels like floating near, or into a void. “The Road” is like you’re no longer traveling with one friend riding shotgun but instead a part of a caravan, meandering your way through the journey communicated in the song.

I feel a little bit like I’m rambling. But that rambling has a nice cadence to it. Or it might not. It might be these songs overriding any perception of clumsiness in this writing.

I’m alright with it, though. Booty&theKidd are on to something cool.

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