Hip-hop producer turned contemporary jazz saxophonist
Sam Rucker has something to say. Blending jazz, hip-hop, soul and gospel, he
communicates through inspirational instrumentals that meaningfully resonate
with listeners. Nearly three years in the making, his sophomore album, “Tell
You Something,” is slated for release from Favor Productions on June 3 and
includes contributions from Norman Connors, Bobby Lyle, Tom Browne and Alyson
Williams on the set mixed and mastered by Euge Groove.
Rucker
produced “Tell You Something” featuring eight originals that he wrote or
co-penned. The tracks harness the rhythms and intensity of hip-hop, melodic
phrasing typical of R&B, rousing gospel affirmations and improvisational
jazz nuances. A fan of vintage R&B, Rucker was honored to share production
chores with Connors on instrumental renditions of three classics: “Before I Let
Go,” “Footsteps in the Dark” and Connors’ signature hit, “You Are My Starship.”
Lyle’s keyboard wizardry is on full display on each cover tune with gregarious
solos while Browne’s regal trumpet adds a touch of class along with a fervent
solo to “Starship.” Williams’ glorifies “Before I Let Go” and “Footsteps” with
her lustrous voice. But it’s one of Rucker’s own empowering compositions, “Be
True 2 Who U R,” that will be the first to receive airplay from the
radio-friendly disc when it is serviced to stations in May. Rucker, who plays
keyboards as well as tenor, alto and soprano sax on the record, elects to use his
soprano horn over the chunky hip hop beats on the single.
“My
desire as an artist is not only to entertain, but to be a communicator – to
connect with the listener in such a way that they are encouraged and inspired
by my music. Even as an instrumentalist, I believe my music speaks lyrically
and I use it to convey uplifting messages. I wrote ‘Be True 2 Who U R,’ ‘No
Other Way’ and ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like It’ to inspire confidence in one’s
individuality. My music has a unique fingerprint and the songs on the album
celebrate what the Creator put in me to share with the world. ‘Tell You
Something’ and ‘A Million Ways’ convey my gratitude for the gifts He’s given
me. ‘Brighter Day,’ ‘Love’s Melody’ and ‘A Long Way to Go’ were written to
offer compassion for the sacrifices and struggles that we face in life and
touch that place in our soul where adversity rests. ‘Brighter Day’ advocates
that a brighter day will come if you keep the faith. The covers I selected pay
tribute to some of the great R&B artists that shaped my listening while
growing up. One of whom, Norman Connors, I had the pleasure of working with on
this album,” said Rucker, a Virginia Beach, Virginia native who studied music
while attending nearby James Madison University.
Shortly
after releasing his 2011 debut album, “Heat from the Heavens,” that introduced
his formula of “hip-hop grooves + jazz melodies + a splash of inspirational
lyrics,” Rucker met Connors and planning commenced straightaway for “Tell You
Something.” The saxman toured as a member of Connors’ Starship Orchestra
through 2012. Over the years, Rucker has performed with Peter White, Ronnie
Laws, Phil Perry, Cindy Bradley, Ivan Neville, Howard Hewett and Gerald Veasley
as well as Groove, Browne and Williams. His work as producer spans hip-hop,
gospel and spoken word. Rucker gigs throughout Virginia and looks to expand his
routing nationally with the successful release of “Tell You Something.”
The cuts
contained on “Tell You Something” are:
“Tell
You Something”
“Before
I Let Go”
“A
Million Ways”
“You Are
My Starship”
“Be True
2 Who U R”
“Ain’t
Nothin’ Like It”
“Footsteps
in the Dark”
“Brighter
Day”
“No
Other Way”
“Love’s
Melody”
“A Long
Way to Go”
“Tell
You Something” (album version)
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