BeatCaffeine’s Favorite Tracks of 2020
As we wind down the final days of a year that we will never forget, and begin to look ahead, it’s good to highlight some of those incredible individual tracks that helped us get through 2020. From jazz, soul, electronic music, global grooves, dance floor gems, tropical funk, and just about everything in-between, the amount of quality music that was coming out over the past twelve months was arguably as good as any year I can recall.
Given that there were so many incredible tracks released throughout the year and I did not have enough time to individually highlight them all here, I’ve put together an expanded playlist at the bottom of this post featuring the full list of over 200 favorite tracks.
With that being said, here are BeatCaffeine’s ‘Favorite 30 Tracks of 2020’.
See playlist below for the full 200-plus track list!
30. Chip Wickham — “Double Cross”
(from ‘Blue to Red’)
Incredible jazz dance groover from UK-born, Madrid-based flautist and saxophonist Chip Wickham, from his equally brilliant full-length Blue To Red.
29. Andre Solomko — “Recalling You”
(from ‘Recalling You’ 12″)
A great disco-influenced jazz-funk track from Finland-based saxophonist and producer Andre Solomko, featuring soulful lead-vocals from Charlotta Kerbs, Toni Nordlund’s disco-influenced percussion rhythms, and spacey hypnotic melodies by keyboardist Antti Utriainen.
28. The Quiet Ones — “Ninguem”
(from ‘The Quiet Ones’)
A mid-tempo tropical gem off of The Quiet One’s excellent self-titled debut, a global groove project led by London producers Marc Brown and Chris Franck, featuring guest artists from Brazil, Senegal, and Jordan.
27. Laura Groves — “Sunset”
(from ‘Private Road’ EP)
A brilliant hypnotic and soulful 80s synth influenced selection London’s Laura Groves great new EP, A Private Road.
26. Laurence Mason — “Golden Brown”
(from ‘The Take Vibe EP’ 7″)
An adventurous mashup from Uk pianist and saxophonist Laurence Mason featuring two of his biggest influences in seventies-era proto-punk band The Stranglers with the sixties cool jazz “Take Five” sound of Dave Brubeck.
25. East Coast Love Affair — “Don’t Be Afraid”
(from ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ 7″)
Released as a preview single to the group’s forthcoming debut on Athens of the North, this is an incredible new version of Sky’s The Limit’s highly obscure 1976 soulful funk gem “Don’t Be Afraid”.
24. Yazmin Lacey — “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” (Dodo Greene)
(from ‘Blue Note Re:imagined’)
London’s Yazmin Lacey does a soulful and heartfelt rendition of Dodo Greene’s 1962 jazz vocal classic “I’ll Never Stop Loving You”. This is just one of the many great 7″ singles to be released from the Blue Note Re:imagined compilation.
23. Nubya Garcia ft. Ms Maurice, Cassie Kinoshi, Richie Seivwright — “Source”
(from ‘Source’)
A laid-back reggae-influenced jazz groover from London saxophonist Nubya Garcia featuring special guests Ms Maurice, Cassie Kinoshi, and Richie Seivwright, all of whom also perform with KOKOROKO.
22. Aldorande — “Summer Body”
(from ‘Summer Body / Breakfast in Space’ 12″)
Featured on the the French ensemble’s most recent single for Favorite Recordings, “Summer Body” is a breezy balearic boogie gem, blending together mid-tempo jazz-funk, AOR melodies, and catchy Brazilian-influenced vocals.
21. Gilberto Rodriguez y Los Intocables — “Alé Alé”
(from ‘Alé Alé’ 7″)
Recorded and produced by Eduardo Arenas of Chicano Batman, “Alé Alé” is a modern-day psychedelic-influenced Latin gem from San Francisco based group.
20. Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble — “Stay Beautiful”
(from ‘Stay Beautiful’ single)
Following one of the best and most groundbreaking albums from this past year (see Where Future Unfolds), the Chicago-based collective Black Monument Ensemble, led by visual and sound artist Damon Locks, released the very timely spiritual and uplifting seven-minute song near the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. It’s a powerful and moving song of acceptance, hope, and inner beauty. If there is one song that you listen to on this list, please let it be this one. Released digitally, hopefully we will eventually see it on vinyl.
19. Nduduzo Makhathini — “Beneath The Earth”
(from ‘Modes of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds’)
Released off of the South African pianist/composer’s Blue Note Records’ highly recommended debut album Modes of Communication: Letters From The Underworlds, “Beneath The Earth” is a beautiful spiritual jazz masterpiece featuring lead vocals by Msaki and a soaring alto saxophone solo by Logan Richardson.
18. Cleo Sol — “Her Light”
(from ‘Rose In The Dark’)
Did anyone have a more active year than Cleo Sol? Not only is she part of the groundbreaking collective SAULT, she released her incredible debut album Rose In The Dark. Featured as the last track of the album, this track is drenched in soul that includes a hypnotic cosmic backing groove.
17. Dinner Party ft. Phoelix — “Freeze Tag”
(from ‘Dinner Party’ EP)
A socially conscious and timely modern neo-soul gem from an all-star collaboration featuring Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder with special guest vocalist Phoelix. Dinner’s been served!
16. The Sultan’s Swing ft. Chip Wickham — “Dune”
(from ‘Ignite’)
Seeing high rotation on legendary UK deejay Colin Curtis’ Saturday WorldWide FM show, “Dune” is a modern jazz dance classic featuring special guest Chip Wickham on flute.
15. David Walters — “Mama”
(from “Soleil Kréyol”)
Originally released as a single twelve-inch in 2019, “Mama” is just one of the many mind-blowing “creole soul” tropical dance floor gems from David Walters’ latest album Soleil Kréyol. Also check out the track “Kryé Mwen” which also worthy of this “top 30” list (featured on the playlist below). Do yourself a favor and just buy the album!
14. Jorja Smith — “Rose Rouge” (St. Germain)
(from ‘Blue Note Re:imagined’)
Originally released as the first 7″ single off the incredible Blue Note Re:imagined compilation, vocalist Jorja Smith does a soulful rendition of St. Germain’s 2000 jazz dance classic “Rose Rouge”. The track also features Ezra Collective drummer Femi Koleoso.
13. Thaba — “Vaya Le Nna”
(from ‘Eyes Rest Their Feet’)
One of the many great tracks off the duo’s debut album on Soundway, featuring the late South African singer/songwriter Khusi Seremane’s soulful vocals, and incredible production from American producer/ musician Gabriel Cyr, which combines hypnotic electronic beats, South African-influenced Bubblegum pop, New Wave, and Afro-synth grooves.
12. Charlotte Dos Santos — “Harvest Time”
(from ‘Harvest Time’ EP)
A sweeping and powerful hypnotic soul gem featuring lush atmospheric instrumentation from the Brazilian-Norwegian vocalist, featured on her equally incredible EP on Because Music.
11. Thomas de Pourquery ft. James The Prophet — “All The Love”
(from ‘All The Love’ single)
Only released digitally, “All The Love” is an epic hypnotic soulful gem from French composer, saxophonist & singer Thomas de Pourquery. The track also includes special guest hip-hop vocalist James The Prophet. Hopefully a future vinyl release it’s on it’s way in 2021.
10. Alabaster DePlume — “Whisky Story Time”
(from ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals, Vol. 1’)
London-based composer, saxophonist and visionary Alabaster DePlume released one of the most beautifully healing records of 2020 (something we all needed), and the track “Whisky Story Time” perfectly captures the essence of this spiritual and meditative instrumental masterpiece.
9. Photay — “The People”
(from ‘Waking Hours’)
The first thing I thought of when I heard Photay’s “The People” was it’s really a shame that this track was not able to be played out to massive festival audiences this past summer due to the pandemic. Regardless, this a dance floor anthem featuring funky electronic beats, synth grooves, and vibrant rhythms.
8. Khruangbin — “Time (You and I)”
(from ‘Mordechai’)
Just one of the many incredible songs off the Houston-based trio’s full-length Mordechai, blending together a fusion of reggae dub, surf-rock, and funky Middle Eastern-influenced soul and disco. Just do yourself a favor, and go buy this album.
7. Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes — “What Kinda Music”
(from ‘What Kinda Music’)
A truly brilliant cosmic gem from the London duo’s full-length album What Kinda Music, blending together Tom Misch’s soulful vocals, spacey keyboard and guitar melodies, with drummer Yussef Dayes’ jazz-funk and hip-hop inspired percussion grooves.
6. STR4TA — “Aspects”
(from ‘Aspects’)
The first single from the highly-anticipated 2021 full-length debut (coming out on Gille’s Peterson’s Brownswood label) by London’s STR4TA. Inspired by pioneering bands like Freeez, Atmosfear, Light of the World, and others, “Aspects” blends together late 70s and early 80s Brit-funk and jazz-fusion grooves, with soulful hypnotic vocals and spacey-synth melodies.
5. SAULT — “Wildfires”
(from ‘UNTITLED (Black Is)’)
In 2020, there wasn’t a more important album than SAULT’s groundbreaking UNTITLED (Black Is). Rightfully speaking out against racism and police brutality, this album captures the mixture of emotions surrounding the civil unrest that we saw this past summer (and continue to see), featuring songs of anger, sadness, out cry, and hope for the future. I could honestly fill 20 slots on this list with tracks from this album, however I decided to just choose one of my personal favorites in the soulful and lyrically powerful “Wildfires”.
4. Y-Bayani and Baby Naa & their Band of Enlightenment Reason and Love — “Nsie Nsie”
(from ‘Nsie Nsie’)
Just one of the many great tracks from this collaborative effort from Ghanaian singers and songwriters Y-Bayani, Baby Naa, and the label’s “sessions ensemble” The Band of Enlightenment, Reason and Love. A brilliant mix of roots reggae rhythms, Afro synth pop, funk and gospel.
3. Gabriels — “Love and Hate in a Different Time”
(from ‘Love and Hate in a Different Time’)
“Love and Hate in a Different Time” is a timely sixties soul-influenced anthem about how we appear to be losing the ability to peacefully be together in a space and express ourselves. This is also the title track to the the Los Angeles-based group’s excellent debut EP, featuring lead singer Jacob Lusk and producers Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope.
2. Jordan Rakei — “Wind Parade” (Donald Byrd)
(from ‘Blue Note Re:imagined’)
London-based Australian multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Jordan Rakei reworks “Wind Parade” originally from Donald Byrd and the Mizell Brothers’ 1975 jazz-funk classic album Places And Spaces. Rakei builds off the hypnotic groove of the original, however adds more prominent vocal verses to give it an even more soulful feel.
1. SAULT — “I Just Want to Dance”
(from ‘UNTITLED (Rise)’)
Released on SAULT’s second groundbreaking release of 2020, UNTITLED (Rise), this ESG-like dance floor gem truly captures the essence of what this past year felt like for many, a mixture of frustration (ie the lyrics “I just want to dance … we lost another life”) and hopefulness for a better future, incorporating the soulful vocal lines “we got to find a way out” and “we rise again”. Like all of SAULT’s tracks, not only do the lyrics resonate with the times, the production quality is absolutely brilliant, featuring a driving post-disco drum groove with swelling atmospheric synths coming in and out before building up to a full-on Samba-influenced percussion explosion. “I Just Want to Dance” is a rally cry anthem for us to keep moving forward to seek necessary change.
Here are BeatCaffeine’s 200 Favorite Tracks of 2020
BeatCaffeine 2020 Favorites Lists:
Favorite Albums of 2020
Favorite EP Releases of 2020
Favorite Tracks of 2020
Favorite Compilations of 2020
Favorite Reissues of 2020
