During the pandemic lockdown, the multi-talented Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas) became obsessed with hip-hop beats and film scores the way some people became obsessed with baking sourdough. Now on Jaguar Sound, he funnels those influences into a slinky, bumping, full-length instrumental release that bubbles like a bong.
The Austin, Texas-based artist mentioned two key influences that trigged this album, and both can be heard early on. “Noble Metals” uses smooth funk and deep bass to channel the beats from The Alchemist while “Rise Of the Have Nots” is pure Ennio Morricone as the Spaghetti Western vibes fan out over a dusty vista, before turning into a soaring rocker in exciting fashion.
Those two major influences push and pull throughout Jaguar Sound which flows easily along on head bopping, stoned grooves. “Spirits” is funky hip hop bottom with blaring horns, flutes, and keys soaring over the top while “Albertos Loop” is all percussive loops based around a popping hand drum and various levels of bass booms with outer space synths sprinkled into a spicy aural seasoning.
Some guests show up for the dynamic “Starry Nights” as Mary Lattimore contributes on the harp, Neal Francis injects piano runs, and Alexis Buffum strokes the violin. “Fireflies” is also a banging jam that uses a heavy bass groove with cinematic flourishes, grinding guitars, and organ warbles.
The album ends with a run of hip-hop-ready outings that are just in need of an MC (or Quesada’s partner in the Black Pumas, Eric Burton) to lend some vocals to. While all of these outings, like the organ prominent “Turk’s Cap”, the bass-breaking bounce of “the Inquisitor” and the slowed-down rawness of “DG On The Keys”, are fine, there is a sense of sameness and lacking as vocals or guest lyricists which could put this collection over the top.
Perhaps that is a planned collaboration/remix in the future, but as of now, the fuzzy, deep grooves of Jaguar Sound are tasty offerings to the legendary beats and scores that inspired Adrian Quesada this go around.