A JBF Award nominee and self-professed music geek, Matt Jennings gave us his ideal playlist for a day in his life as chef of Farmstead, Inc., an acclaimed farm- and artisan-driven restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island.
Morning
City and Colour: The Hurry and the Harm (2013)
“Dallas Green, the former singer for the now defunct post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, has completely come into his own with this release. He croons. He swoons. His falsetto spreads like butter over low-reverb toast. A perfect wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee album.”
Daytime Prep
Sparta: Wiretap Scars (2002)
“During prep, it’s important that the crew keeps moving and pushing hard right up to service. I’m a hardcore and punk fan, and this album has the kind of driving sound that keeps you on track and moving. (A double espresso doesn’t hurt, either.)”
Family Meal
Vieux Farka Touré: Vieux Farka Touré (2007)
“Family meal should be a time for one last breath before we all plunge into a busy service. A time to gather your thoughts, taste some wine specials, and listen to pre-meal notes. It’s also a time for the last conversation of the day. Vieux Farka Touré’s bluesy, soulful reflections of a war-torn Mali are storytelling at its best.”
Service
Tom Vek: We Have Sound (2005)
“We Have Sound can only be described as a bumping, somewhat low-fi, fierce funk. Its beat and groove—particularly in songs like “Cover”—are timeless and feel fresh even almost ten years later. I like the dining room to have a bounce during service. Albums like this help push the house into party mode.”
Post-Service Wind-Down
Oddisee: The Beauty in All (2013)
“A hip-hop head coming up as a kid, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a hip-hop album here. Post-service is for chilling, having a drink, and finishing paperwork. This joint keeps my spirits high and my ride home fresh. Part DJ, part producer, Oddisee layers this record with soothing melody and percussive instrumentation. Tracks like ‘Lonely Planet’ are the perfect jazzy finish to a long day at the cutting board.”
