dB-ish: Straight Vibesss

Label: dB Studios
Released: 2025

Personnel

Darren Barrett trumpet
Santiago Bosch keyboards
Warren Pettey keyboards
Youngchae Jeongbass, acoustic
Julian Miltenberger drums
Judith Soberanes percussion

“Darren Barrett’s latest album, dB-ish: Straight Vibesss, is a dynamic exploration of the intersection between jazz and ’90s hip-hop. Releasing on February 7th—a fitting tribute to J Dilla’s birthday—the album blends live instrumentation with programmed beats, drawing inspiration from hip-hop legends like Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and J Dilla. dB-ish is Barrett’s experimental jazz project, showcasing his skills as a trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.

The ensemble features Santiago Bosch and Warren Pettey on keys, YoungChae Jeong on bass, and drummers Julian Miltenberger and Tobias Israel. Each track embarks on a different musical journey, incorporating influences from Detroit and West Coast hip-hop. The album consists of five extended compositions—each exceeding ten minutes—crafted as the musicians’ personal “vibesss,” with the exception of Tobias.

Three words keep coming to mind when describing dB-ish: Straight Vibesss—Experimental, Imaginative, and Listenable. It’s fascinating to hear where each track takes you, and the album remains incredibly engaging on repeat listens. In fact, I’ve had it on loop a dozen times this past week. The title Vibesss feels entirely fitting.

Fans of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew might notice its influence here. Barrett, who absorbed the sounds of jazz greats like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Donald Byrd, Clifford Brown, and Art Blakey, was equally inspired by hip-hop pioneers. “The music of artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Mobb Deep, J Dilla, Wu-Tang Clan, 2Pac, and N.W.A. was just as much a part of my listening as jazz legends,” Barrett reflects. “This recording was a dream project, brought to life by these incredible musicians and their limitless talents.”

For listeners who appreciate genre-blending jazz with deep hip-hop roots, dB-ish: Straight Vibesss delivers an immersive, boundary-pushing experience that connects two musical worlds.” ~ John Hilderbrand: contemporaryjazz.com