Bernell Jones II Channels Vintage Groove and Modern Jazz Fire on ‘1979’

Memphis-born, New York-based saxophonist and composer Bernell Jones II continues his ascent in contemporary jazz with “1979,” a richly textured, groove-led fusion track featuring acclaimed keyboardist Julius Rodriguez. Fusing smoky late-night jazz, lo-fi warmth, disco-era shimmer and modern improvisational flair, the single feels both nostalgic and forward-facing, a dialogue between eras rather than a simple tribute to them.

Originally conceived during the isolation of the 2020 lockdown, “1979” began as a deeply personal bedroom recording project, with Bernell performing much of the instrumentation himself inside a small New York apartment. That DIY foundation still lingers in the track’s intimate edges, but five years on it has been reimagined with the breadth and confidence of a seasoned bandleader. The result is a composition that breathes differently, wider, looser, and far more alive in its rhythmic interplay.

At its core, the track is built on an irresistible funk-inflected groove: a fluid bassline, soft-edged percussion and warm analogue synth textures that evoke the hazy optimism of 1970s dance floors without slipping into pastiche. Bernell’s saxophone work moves through this landscape with expressive restraint, alternating between melodic clarity and spontaneous bursts of improvisation that feel instinctive rather than ornamental.

A defining presence here is Julius Rodriguez, whose contribution on synthesizers pushes the track into more cinematic territory. Known for dissolving boundaries between jazz, hip-hop, R&B and experimental music, Rodriguez delivers a solo that feels less like a spotlight moment and more like a shift in atmosphere, expanding the harmonic space and subtly altering the emotional temperature of the piece. It’s a performance that reinforces the track’s central idea: jazz fusion as living, evolving conversation.

The title “1979” nods to Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, a formative influence on Bernell’s musical identity. Rather than recreating its sound, however, the track channels its spirit, that sense of effortless groove, emotional openness and rhythmic sophistication. You can hear that influence not as imitation, but as inherited DNA running through the basslines and melodic phrasing.

That balance between homage and innovation mirrors Bernell Jones II’s broader artistic trajectory. Alongside performing with artists such as Olivia Dean, Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, he has built a growing reputation as both a musician and cultural communicator, using digital platforms to demystify the life of a working jazz artist in New York. His 2024 debut album TYPEWRITER already signalled a desire to blur genre boundaries; “1979” pushes that ambition further, leaning more confidently into groove, accessibility and emotional directness.

What makes the track particularly compelling is its sense of continuity between past and present. It doesn’t treat nostalgia as distance, but as texture, something embedded in the music’s feel rather than its surface. The production is warm but precise, retro-leaning but not retrogressive, and anchored by a clear sense of momentum that keeps the piece moving forward even in its most improvisational passages.

Ultimately, “1979” succeeds because it feels lived-in. It carries the intimacy of its origins, the sophistication of its collaborators, and the joy of musicians responding to each other in real time. It’s jazz fusion that doesn’t demand academic attention, but rewards it, equally at home in a late-night headphone session or a packed, dimly lit club.

With this release, Bernell Jones II further cements himself as a voice capable of bridging tradition and modernity without diluting either. “1979” doesn’t just look back, it moves, breathes and grooves forward.

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