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Jake Smolowe

@jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.4K following 428 posts

San Francisco-based pianist, composer, music educator, arranger, film scorer, aspiring app developer. Also, cat and dog magnet, Stanford Women's Basketball lifer, sci-fi/fantasy/thriller/comedy addict. www.jakesmolowe.com

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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Some late night improvisation. #JazzPiano #Piano #Jazz
youtu.be
Late night thoughts 7/21/26
YouTube video by Jake Smolowe
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
This is my brain on harmony. #JazzPiano #JazzHarmony #MusicTheory
Obsidian Graph View on an iPad: hundreds of brightly colored, labeled chord, note and scale nodes connected by fine gray lines across a black background, forming a dense harmony map.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Just trying to reach Inbox Zero… Only 2,488 rows to go! 🎹😂 #JazzPiano #MusicTheory #IndieDev #BuildInPublic
Screenshot of an internal review screen for a music-theory app. The sidebar shows an Inbox containing 2,488 cases, with 5,099 reviewed and 7,670 total. The main area lists complex chord combinations alongside color-coded piano keyboard diagrams.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
New piano tutorial up on YouTube! You can purchase the accompanying PDF and MP3s on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/posts/jazz-p... #jazz #piano #jazztheory #jazzpianotutorials #jazzharmony #jazzpiano
youtu.be
Jazz Piano Tutorial - Intro To Note Testing on Autumn Leaves
YouTube video by Jake Smolowe
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
And also (YouTube algorithm is killing it today):
youtu.be
If Super Mario Bros had been released 100 years earlier
YouTube video by JunWu
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
OK I know today was super terrifying but this made me smile just now.
youtu.be
Pink Panther on Double Bass | Vienna Philharmonic
YouTube video by Vienna Philharmonic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Song of the Day: “Hope,” by Harold López-Nussa I haven’t been around here much for a while. It’s been a really tough year, and I often catch myself retreating inwards. Hard to find moments of joy. Discovering this song recently was one of them. #hope #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Hope
YouTube video by Harold López-Nussa - Topic
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Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Low Quality Facts @lowqualityfacts.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
We made a comic about The Hulk.
1 Waiter: Any room for dessert Mr. Banner?
2 Bruce Banner: I really wanted some but I'm way too full. This makes me so mad.
3 Bruce turns into the hulk
4 Hulk: I'll have the tiramisu.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
I wrote a letter to Lyra. It was something I think I've needed to do for a while (full letter in the alt text). Note: spoilers for a key scene in His Dark Materials/The Amber Spyglass, so if you haven't read or watched the series or book and plan to, skip this (or at least the 4th large paragraph)!
Lyra’s resting murder face, and the very first portrait mode photo I ever took.Lyra.

My sweet girl. It's been 3 1/2 months since you left this earth, and I miss you so much. So goddamn much. I don't know how I expected this to go, but living without you is so much more difficult than I ever imagined. Even with over a year to prepare myself, through all the kidney disease treatments, the cancer diagnosis, the anticipatory grief of knowing our time would run out sooner rather than later, I still wasn't ready. Turns out anticipatory grief, while painful in its own way, just doesn't compare to the utter devastation that comes with the simple truth that you're never coming back.

I'm writing this to you now because I don't know what else to do. I've tried so many things to cope with your absence. I've been to therapy. I've listened to sad music, uplifting music, happy music, angry music. I wrote you a song and improvised you another. I talked to a friend who had gone through this before, and I gave advice to another friend who is going through it currently. I read/listened to a picture book on pet loss, "The Invisible Leash." That one was sweet and beautiful. I listened to a grownup book on grief, "Grief is Love," and that one
 actually helped for like a week. Losing myself in a book or a TV show helps, too - but only until I put the book down or turn off the TV. That's the thing. All of these things help, some of the time, for a while. But nothing helps consistently, on a long-term basis.

The (grownup) grief book taught me that there isn't really a timeline for grief and that every grief experience is different, and that it's OK to be not totally OK for a long time, maybe forever. This is normal, and the depth of the hurt that I'm feeling now is reflective of the profundity of the love I felt — that I will always feel - for you. The love that you brought to me. I know all of this, intellectually.

And it's not like I haven't experienced loss before. I've lost friends, family members, people who meant the world to me, other pets, and those losses hurt terribly, sometimes for a long
 time, but for each of them, I rode the waves of sadness and came out the other side. I always found a way to make it through. This time? I feel like I'm drowning. I feel like your namesake in the Amber Spyglass, being torn away from Pan as she crosses the water into the Land of the Dead. That scene has always resonated with me, but I never realized that one day I'd be in the middle of it. I'll never be whole again without you.

Why is this different? I think it's because, for the 13 years we spent together, you were always there. It doesn't feel quite right, reading on the couch, without you sitting next to me or on my lap purring. Even if, at the end of the day, you weren't the most convenient book rest (definitely the softest, furriest though).

Watching TV is just not the same when I can't see you in the bottom my field of view, curled up in your little DVR cubbyhole that had to be the least comfortable bed in existence. Yes, I understand that it is very warm and you loved it, I'm still going to laugh.

Using the Theragun is a lot less fun when I don't have to actively dodge you because you absolutely MUST protect me from that mean, loud device. I kept trying to tell you it was helping me; you never learned, though. And honestly, I never wanted you to. Having a 5-6 lb. girl cat defend you from a massage gun is every 41-year-old romantic guy's dream.

Feeding time is definitely less chaotic. Your brother is quite the chaos monster all by himself, but the two of you together were something else, especially when you both decided that you only wanted *each other's* food, and neither of you were allowed to have it. Constantly swapping bowls and/or cats is a thing of the past, but damned if I don't miss it. It's quieter now at mealtime, but not as interesting.I even miss having a negotiation with you every time I had to walk down the stairs. I certainly understand that you exclusively wanted to walk directly in front of me, one step at a time (only when prompted), but that made it rather difficult to navigate a staircase, especially when holding laundry baskets! Some choice words were exclaimed on my part on more than one occasion. All I can say is, you weren't called Lyra Underfoot for nothing.

I miss the little things too, like how you used to hear me scratch your scratcher bed and dash up the stairs at full speed because how DARE I, only YOU were allowed to scratch it. Or how you used to run halfway down the stairs and then bunny hop down the last few steps when you got excited for food (see? you COULD take stairs quickly! I knew it!).

How you went absolutely nuts for catnip toys, and would hold onto them for dear life if I tried to take them away. How, when placed atop your favorite faux fur blanket, you would seem to fall into a fugue state, oblivious to your surroundings, kneading as you paced aimlessly. How, each time you woke up when your mom or I came upstairs, you would reach out and try to get us, even though we were several feet away.

I miss the sounds. The little double thunk noise of you jumping off the bed upstairs to come greet me every time I opened my office door. The windshield wiper noise of your paws on the door asking to be let in. The little squeak at the end of your meow when I picked you up.

I miss how, when you were dozing, you would swish your tail a bit every time I said your name, how you would start purring instantly when I put my hand or face up next to you. I miss that last one a whole fricken lot. I'm grateful I have the sound of your purr recorded, so I can still hear you sometimes.

I miss all of these things and so much more.

What I miss the most, though, where I feel your absence the hardest, is bedtime. I deeply miss falling asleep with you curled up next to me. I miss your warmth; it's just way too cold with you gone. I miss how feeling your fur would calm me down at night when I was anxious. I have a lot more trouble these days letting go of stressful thoughts. I miss hearing you and your brother purr in stereo as I closed my eyes — everything right in the world.

You fit just right in the crook of my arm, and even though I could be grumpy and tussy about how you positioned yourself and where you placed your paws (the armpit was not ideal), I was always grateful when you wanted to be there. It was so comforting, knowing that at some point during the night, you would walk up to my pillow, nudge my arm with your paw, and wait for me to lift up the covers so you could crawl underneath and nuzzle up against me. Sometimes, if you went to bed before me, I would scoop you up and bring you under the covers. If I was lucky, you would stay; if not, that was OK because I knew you'd be back later. If I fell asleep with you elsewhere (on your mom's legs, or in your favorite closet hiding spot), you'd be there when I woke up, in my arms or pressed against my back. It's that feeling I miss the most—that sense of confidence, that no matter what else happened in my day, no matter what anxiety dreams I had to face at night, I would wake up with you and feel all right. You brought me so much peace, little one, during those times of day when my mind often felt like a hurricane.

So much is different since you left. But also, so much has changed since you arrived. When you showed up in my backyard on that cold November afternoon, I was living alone, in a relationship that was growing but still young - not even a year old, younger than you were. The only thing I was certain of when it came to pets was that I wasn't responsible enough to takecare of a living creature by myself. Not that you cared. You waltzed into my house with a single meow while I was otherwise occupied with laundry.

"You're not my cat," I said, bewildered and amused, as I put you outside and continued to load up the washer. And so you ran off into the yard next door. But then, 4 hours later, with night fallen and the cold sharpening, you came back. Letting out a more urgent meow from the cover of darkness, you dashed through my open back door once again, and this time I knew I wouldn't be putting you outside. Not in the darkness, not in the cold. You were staying with me that night.

I didn't have cat food or a bowl for you, so I gave you a slice of meatloaf in a small Tupperware container. You were so excited you pushed that container all around the kitchen floor, purring as you scarfed down your dinner. That was the moment that I fell in love with you, when everything changed.

I did the responsible thing, getting you a health checkup and microchip scan (you were healthy, already spayed, but no microchip), putting up ads online in case anyone was looking for you, and searching the neighborhood for lost cat posters with your face on them. Days went by and nothing turned up; no one answered the ads. I took them down. If no one was putting in the effort to find you, then they didn't deserve to have you. You were mine — or more accurately, I was yours.

How do I sum up 13 years of love and companionship? The truth is, I can't. I just know that I am so grateful for what you gave me, all of the cuddles and the zaniness, the resting murder face, the flicking tail even as you purred on my lap (you had a unique ability to seem both annoyed and content simultaneously), the comfort when I was down, the funny noises, the sheer joy when you got the crazies and played with me. What an honor, to be chosen by a sweet girl like you, before I even knew I was ready to care for you. Just the best privilege of my life, sharing those years with you. You taught me so much, and I can't believe that our time is over now.

I want you to know how proud I am for how much of a fighter you were in your last year. Both your mom and I are. You told CKD stage 4 to go fuck itself and got yourself downgraded to stage 3, and then survived 8 more months. You survived cancer for 6 months, and survived a mass removal surgery that the vets initially recommended against because of your age and
 kidney issues, before changing their tune. Every moment that you weren't actively being given IV fluids (which you hated unfortunately), you just went about your normal life like a champ, cancer and kidney disease be damned, until your final week. You did so, so well, and in the end cancer was just too much of an asshole for you to overcome. I know you're not in pain anymore, and that gives me some peace.

Your mom and I miss you every day. Your brother misses you as well, although he'd never admit it. My piano students miss you too, and talk about you often. All our friends and family miss you. You were the most loved cat, and I just want you to know that that love is inexhaustible. I will never, ever forget you and I will never stop loving you, not even a little bit.

I hope you're eating meat loaf for every meal, licking catnip cigars until they're completely soaked through, chasing the laser pointer until you finally catch it, and napping on a soft, warm furry blanket every night. I hope you get to play in all of the fields, chase all the bugs, and roll around in all of the dusty patches of ground.

Thank you, sweet pea, for picking me to be your human. I'm saying goodbye, for now, but you'll aways be in my thoughts, in my music, and in my heart. I love you so much, my little daemon. I'll come find you when I cross the water, but for now, l'll see you in my dreams.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
The news sucks. Sitting around reading the news waiting for someone to fight back sucks too. I’m not waiting any longer. I downloaded the 5calls app and made my first 5 calls today, even though I am VERY awkward on the phone and get anxious about talking to people. If I can do it, so can you!
5calls.org
5 Calls
Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.
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Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
BREAKING: Judge Ana Reyes blocks Trump’s anti-trans military ban EO and the orders implementing it. She stays her order until 10a March 21 to allow the government to seek a stay from the DC Circuit. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Case 1:25-cv-00240-ACR Document 88
Filed 03/18/25 Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NICOLAS TALBOTT, et al,
Plaintiffs,
v.
UNITED STATES, et al,
Defendants.
Civil Action No. 25-cv-00240 (ACR)
ORDER
For the reasons set forth in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, the Court hereby:
GRANTS Plaintiffs' [72] Renewed Application for Preliminary Injunction; it further
ORDERS that Defendants Peter B. Hegseth, in his official capacity as Secretary of
Defense; the United States Department of the Army; Daniel P. Driscoll in his official capacity as
Secretary of the Army; the United States Department of the Navy; Terence G. Emmert in his
official capacity as Acting Secretary of the Navy; the United States Department of the Air Force;
Gary A. Ashworth in his official capacity as Acting Secretary of the Air Force; the Defense
Health Agency; Telita Crosland in her official capacity as Director of the Defense Health
Agency, are preliminarily enjoined, pending further order of this Court, from implementing
Executive Order No. 14183; as well as "Additional Guidance on Prioritizing Military Excellence
and Readiness," Dkt. 63-1; and any other memorandums, guidance, policies, or actions issued
pursuant to Executive Order 14183 or the Additional Guidance on Prioritizing Military
Excellence and Readiness.
The effect of the Court's Order is to maintain the status quo of military policy regarding
transgender service that existed immediately before President Donald J. Trump issued ExecutiveOrder 14183, e.g., the policies described in Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6130.03, Volume 1, "Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction,"
change 5, May 28, 2024; DoDI 6130.03, Volume 2, "Medical Standards for Military Service:
Retention," change 1, June 6, 2022; and DoDI 1300.28, "In-Service Transition for Transgender
Service Members," change 1, December 20, 2022.
The Court also ORDERS that, pending further order of this Court, Defendants shall
maintain and continue Plaintiffs' military statuses; it further
ORDERS Defendants to take all steps necessary to effectuate this Order; it further
ORDERS Defendants to provide written notice of this Order by 5:00 pm eastern on
March 21, 2025, to all branches of the Department of Defense and to any other entity responsible
for implementing military policy; it further
ORDERS Defendants to file with the Court confirmation by 6:00 pm eastern on March
21, 2025, that it has provided the written notice of the Order as the Court has directed; it further
ORDERS the parties to file a joint status report by March 31, 2025, that informs the
Court of Defendants' compliance with this Order.
Finally, on its own motion, the Court STAYS the effect of this Order until March 21,
2025, at 10:00 am eastern. This Order will automatically go into effect, unless stayed by an
appellate court, on March 21, 2025, at 10:01 am eastern.If the parties, at any time, have questions about the scope of this injunction, they should
jointly reach out to Chambers. The Court will move expeditiously to address any issues.
SO ORDERED.
Date: March 18, 2025
ANA C. REYES
United States District Court Judge
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Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
More of this, please. A LOT more of this, please.
1658355356266
Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Mike Redmond @mikeredmond.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Just finished a new transcription of Warren Wolf's vibes solo on "Prelude / Someday We'll All Be Free," complete with piano fingerings! You can check it out for free on on Soundslice!
soundslice.com
Someday We’ll All Be Free - Warren Wolf vibes solo transcribed for piano
Warren Wolf vibraphone solo from "Prelude / Someday We'll All Be Free" on "New Works & Classics Reimagined: Live 2022 SFJAZZ Center", transcribed for piano RH with fingerings.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
On a non-political note, if you want to do something nice, free & low effort for my birthday, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel! I post original music, covers and the occasional jazz piano tutorial. I’d love your support!
youtube.com
Jake Smolowe
Jake Smolowe is a versatile pianist, composer, music educator, arranger and film scorer based in San Francisco, CA. He specializes in jazz but his work explores many genres, including funk, rock, blue...
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Also donating here.
americanimmigrationcouncil.org
American Immigration Council
The Council strives for a fair and just immigration system.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
For my birthday today, I am donating to a couple of organizations that need as much support as they can get right now. Contribute if you can! Here is the first.
paypal.com
Donate to Trans Youth Equality Foundation
Help support Trans Youth Equality Foundation by donating or sharing with your friends.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Song of the Day: “Lydia (Among Other Tragedies),“ by Jared Dustin Griffin In Jared’s words (from Instagram): “Life is beautiful. Life is hard. Love is beautiful. Love is hard. This is a silly song about these not so silly truths Happy Valentine’s Day!” #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Lydia (Among Other Tragedies)
YouTube video by Jared Dustin Griffin - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
My friend Liz Cole released her debut jazz album on Jan. 28 and it’s excellent. She’s a fantastic vocalist and has put together a stellar band to play with her—you should check it out! CDs: www.lizzycolemusic.com/store/p/i-wa... More links in the comments. #jazz #jazzsky #jazzvocals
youtube.com
I Want to Be Happy - YouTube
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Improv 2/10/25 - "Time" Fair warning: this ended up being a pretty sad piece & video. That's just the place I'm in right now, dealing with some ongoing grief from the loss of my cat Lyra recently, and just processing the world in general these days. #jazz #jazzsky #piano #SkyOriginalMusicTracks
youtu.be
Improv 2/10/25 - "Time"
YouTube video by Jake Smolowe
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
A video I took of howler monkeys swinging through the forest in Playa Grande, Costa Rica over this past holiday break. youtu.be/g0aN7JjWbjY Background music: Jake Smolowe — "Funky April 13th" youtu.be/FgJbqM1DPWk #howlermonkeys #wildlife #CostaRica #funkymusic
youtu.be
Howler Monkeys in Playa Grande, Costa Rica
YouTube video by Jake Smolowe
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Luke loves his heated bed. #cats #catsky #catsofbluesky
Luke the tabby cat propping his head up on his heated bedLuke the tabby cat propping his head up on his heated bed, eyes partially closedLuke the tabby cat propping his head up on his heated bed, eyes mostly closed
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Today's #ios #coding milestone: Figuring out how to use Audiokit's Sequencer with the piano Soundfont I'm using. Haven't coded it in the app yet, but this will allow me to implement playback for scales, chord progressions, melodies, anything that requires precise timing.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Trying to make art in these times...sometimes it feels impossible, sometimes hopeless, sometimes meaningless. But that's why I keep doing it. Because if I stopped, then what do I have left? #skyoriginalmusictracks #musiciansky #jazzsky #jazz #musicsky #piano #improvisation #jazzmusic #jazzpiano
youtube.com
Improvisation 1/31/2025
YouTube video by Jake Smolowe
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Song of the Day: “Aguantando,“ by David Binney & Edward Simon Lucia Pulido’s vocals & Binney’s sax layer to create a unique sound for the head. Simon takes an exploratory solo over the wandering A section, and then Binney goes beast mode over the B. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Aguantando
YouTube video by David Binney - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Omg, this is so funny. I am losing my mind listening to Dan Orlovsky pronounce the word “timpani” and watching the commentators try to figure out the word for “merengue” (narrator: they do not, but Laura Rutledge absolutely knows the word and just isn’t saying it). Good shit.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
I was doomscrolling but then I decided to play with my cat and this feels like a much better life decision.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
So this was fun to receive in my email today. #iOS #coding #goals
A screenshot of Jake Smolowe's certificate of graduation for a Kodeco online coding Bootcamp.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
Song of the Day: “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,“ by Dena DeRose Love this arrangement. DeRose floats her voice over the time even as she locks in on piano w/ Matt Wilson (ds) & Peter Washington (bs). Stellar trumpet solo by the late Jim Rotondi. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
YouTube video by Dena DeRose - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Song of the Day: “Magnolia,“ by Taylor Eigsti (feat. Becca Stevens) Moody & wondrous. Love the way the cyclical vamp at the end builds up to a fury with Eigsti soloing over Becca’s sublime vocals, & then the muted drum solo coda brings it down gently. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Magnolia
YouTube video by Taylor Eigsti - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
New #ios #coding milestone today: My music theory app-in-progress now has sound via Audiokit! I finally figured out how to load a piano SoundFont into a sampler instrument, and now I can hear every chord that my app can display!
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Song of the Day: “Long Way To Go,“ by Joe Bagale AKA Otis McDonald Everything about this tune is joyful. Warm & punchy synths. Drums, percussion & bass are super tight. Soulful vocal harmonies. Makes me feel like life’s a party & I just want to enjoy the adventure. #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Long Way to Go
YouTube video by Otis McDonald - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Song of the Day: “A Man Within Himself,“ by GTO Trio youtu.be/3FAcPtMt3zo?... Warms the heart. Like sitting around a campfire with your best friends. The ending solo vamp gives strong Mehldau Blackbird vibes. Gadi Lehavi is one of my new favorites. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
A Man Within Himself (Adam Betoch Atzmo)
YouTube video by GTO Trio - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Really proud right now—on Sunday I submitted the final project for the on-demand iOS coding bootcamp I've been working on since Nov. 2023. I often struggle with followthrough and leave projects unfinished, so this feels like a big win. Not having it hanging over my head anymore feels amazing.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Dealing with some hand fatigue issues due to a project I'm working on so I'm putting song recs on pause for a bit. Back soon hopefully!
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
Song of the Day: “Waltz of the Flowers,“ by Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini youtu.be/KpTZUHR5rik?... Really fun and interesting samba version of this classic Nutcracker theme! Made me smile today. Merry Christmas / happy holidays, all! #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini - Waltz of the Flowers
YouTube video by GroundUP Music NYC
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
This is the best version of “O Holy Night” I’ve ever heard. Samara Joy, the McLendon family & Sullivan Fortner on B3 create something truly sublime. The reharmonization at 2:35 & the tag ending are mind-blowing. youtu.be/_GLc4k77470?... #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday #christmasmusic
youtu.be
Samara Joy - O Holy Night (Audio) ft. The McLendon Family
YouTube video by SamaraJoyVEVO
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
I don’t have the energy for a full song rec today, but here’s Brad Mehldau playing the Christmas Song with his daughter Eden! youtu.be/YJVdAnvYO6I?... #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky
youtu.be
Brad Mehldau & Eden Mehldau - "The Christmas Song"
YouTube video by Everything Brahms
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
Song of the Day: “More Than Just Another Try,“ by KNOWER youtu.be/q076unR4U54?... Incredible vocal harmony written by Louis Cole; equally incredible execution by Genevieve Artadi. I listen to this to remind myself how it’ll feel to achieve my goals. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
More Than Just Another Try - KNOWER
YouTube video by KNOWER MUSIC
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Song of the Day: “How It All Began (The Story of Mr. Potes,“ by Michel Reis youtu.be/Wq8Ua6HANe4?... I find this song/video incredibly moving—an homage to his piano teacher, I think. There’s a sense of tender reverence, & deep longing for times past. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Michel Reis - How It All Began (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Michel Reis
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Luke says goodnight. #cat #catsky #catsofbluesky
Luke the tabby cat hugging his spare human's arm.Luke the tabby cat pressing his face into his spare human's arm.Luke the tabby cat hugging his spare human's arm and looking at the camera.Luke the tabby cat pressing up against his spare human's arm.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
Song(s) of the Day: “Mirrors/The Message,“ by Shai Maestro youtu.be/apI_a2oqLRo?... Dark, deep & haunting, like searching for something you never quite find. The moment the band comes in is all the more heavy for how gut-wrenchingly simple it is. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Shai Maestro - Mirrors (Improvisation #2) & The Message. Animated by Marie Lavis
YouTube video by Shai Maestro
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Song of the Day: “Back in the Day,“ by Larry Goldings Trio youtu.be/CZPxdBInvhQ?... Smooth, soulful, bluesy & funky. Stewart is all the way in the pocket. Goldings & Bernstein take their time developing the narratives of their solos and it pays off. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Back in the Day
YouTube video by Larry Goldings - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
The “What We Do In The Shadows” finale was perfect. Which ending did you get? #whatwedoitheshadows
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Song of the Day: “Golden Slumbers,“ by Brad Mehldau youtu.be/jYqH4juuGP8?... This is such a tender & poignant arrangement. Very comforting. I love the solo vamp on the chorus, and how he keeps taking it farther out before bringing it back home. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Brad Mehldau plays The Beatles - Live at Philharmonie de Paris (2020) | Qwest TV
YouTube video by Qwest TV
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Song of the Day: “Sing to the Moon,“ by Snarky Puppy feat. Laura Mvula & Michelle Willis An anthem of hope for the broken spirit. Love the horn orchestration and the harmonized keyboard lines leading to trading solos. youtu.be/d0Ua9xZP6Lw?... #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Snarky Puppy feat. Laura Mvula & Michelle Willis - "Sing to the Moon" (Family Dinner Volume Two)
YouTube video by GroundUP Music NYC
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Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Retro Blast 👻 @retroblastpod.com · 17/12/2024
This man was literally born to play this role and no one could ever do it better. Ever.
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Song of the Day: “Eternal,“ by the Branford Marsalis Quartet youtu.be/eeuxY4Gzljk?... Tranquil & quiet, ebbing and flowing, sometimes soaring to powerful & exciting heights. An epic, meditation on eternal love. #jazz #jazzsky #musicsky #bestsongiheardtoday
youtu.be
Eternal
YouTube video by Branford Marsalis - Topic
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Jake Smolowe @jakesmolowejazz.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Thanks to everyone who wrote me a note about Lyra. I truly appreciate every single message. I want to respond to folks individually, but it’ll probably take me a while.
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Reposted by Jake Smolowe
Kimm Rogers @kimmrogers.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
I just saw someone suggesting that it’s self-care Sunday. I write songs to figure myself out and that, in itself, is self-care…. right? Love is the best thing we do…..Always. on.soundcloud.com/x5zHbvbHzsAh...
on.soundcloud.com
What It Is To Love
Listen to What It Is To Love by Kimm Rogers #np on #SoundCloud
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