Funky DL - February's Seba Lounge (2024) [Hi-Res]

February's Seba Lounge is the beautiful mood setting album, perfect for late nights, rainy days, serene walks or straight chill sessions. This Nujabes tribute reflects the peaceful vibe encapsulated by the music of the late Japanese producer.

Having lost Nujabes in 2010, this release is met again with a bitter sweet essence due to the the sad passing of Chris Wilson in January 2022.

Chris Wilson was the supremely talented Jazz pianist who played so eloquently throughout this album, glittering the ivories with his sublime and breathtaking talent in homage to Nujabes. Chris spent sleepless nights configuring how he would approach playing Jun Seba's classics and joined Funky DL in bringing their ideas to life for the original 2014 "February" project.

10 years later, this lounge outing loses the percussion and allows the keys to float, creating a soothing backdrop filled with the lush melodies of Nujabes fame. Chris Wilson and Funky DL go back as far as 1989, when DL met Chris (a keyboards instructor) in his secondary school music department. Chris once remarked of DL, "This 12 year old has already begun his life's journey, which is rare to find in a soul so young".

The two would stay in touch over the years and work together on a number of projects including Funky DL's "Thursdays Love" recordings among others.

DL and Chris discussed music in great depth on many occasions, where DL would come to learn that one of Chris' most esteemed jazz pianists was the legendary late Bill Evans. Much of Chris' playing style would effortlessly lean into the shades and shadows Evans would frequent on the piano.

When approaching these re-envisioned Nujabes treasures, DL spent quite some time studying the original versions and shared his ideas with Chris. The two created skeletal ideas to build upon and began layering different sonic textures.

DL went back into the studio in more recent times to peel back the layers and played with a few alternate stems to brings this easy listening lounge version of the project.

Nujabes ensured that melancholic melody was always a signature and pivotal part of his sound. "February's Seba Lounge" sticks to those principles and brings a whole new listening experience departing from the original "February" release.