“A set of ten switchblade-sharp cuts that demonstrate that left-leaning jazz and hip hop cannot just coexist, but can thrive when brought together. …The recipe is clear: reimagining highlights from Big Five Chord’s deep catalog in a way that both stays true to Lundbom’s aesthetic and finds a new way to realize it, all while transcending the logistical limitations posed by the pandemic. …While much of the music on ‘Beats By Balto Vol. 2’ is snarling, dark, and ominous (i.e., incredibly in tune with the moment), its creation and success points to the promise that we will not only find a way to live with and create through the pandemic, but that once we come out on the other side, our musical and cultural lives will be the better for it.”
Avant-Jazz Guitar Etc