New Music Releases: Gorden Campbell, Eric Byak & Quantum Energy, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Gorden Campbell | "Conversations"

A wonderful debut from Gorden Campbell – an underground soul singer on the contemporary LA scene, and one who works here with some of the same collaborative power as the jazz musicians in the city in recent years! Gorden claims inspiration from Terrace Martin, who's on the set, in a lineup that also includes Kamasi Washington – but apart from the bigger names, the whole thing is really an overall effort from everyone involved – great musicians who help shift the vibe with each track, but keep things unified over the strong vocals and message-minded music that Campbell lays down – tunes that include "Too Many Lost", "One Mind", "6 In The Mornin", "Play Somethin", "Initiate", "Song In 6", "Wherever", and "Purify Me". ~ Dusty Groove

Eric Byak & Quantum Energy | "Lagunua Breeze"

Celebrated guitarist, Eric Byak, created his latest single “Laguna Breeze” live in front of the art crowd in Laguna Beach, California at the world famous “Pageant of the Masters”. The single is seasoned with Grammy Award Winning percussionist MB Gordy. Nathan East and Ricky Lawson are also featured guest artists on the Byak’s forthcoming album. Eric’s guitar work has been described as seductive, sensuous, exotic, intertwining classic jazz, breezy funk and Brazilian rhythms. Celebrated in the Los Angeles music scene, Eric’s work on the hit TV show “This is Us” has been hailed as “inspiringly beautiful” (Paul Andersen, Glendale News Press) and “gorgeous...with grace [and] a bit of grittiness” (LA Jazz Scene, Myna Daniels).

Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad | "Run This Town"

Not everyone loved the movie, but Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad did a really great job with the soundtrack – using a style that's a more stripped-down approach to some of the funkier styles they've used in other films – often with more of a focus on percussion, and an insolated element in the mix too! The whole thing's a great shift from the usual for the duo – who manage to evoke some deeper colors here, while still staying very far from conventional soundtrack material – a bit less of the sense of doom that sometimes graces their scoring, but still a gentle sort of majesty overall. Titles include "The Meeting", "Buy The Tape", "Speech", "Graduation", "End Theme", "Driving", "Laundry Alternate", "Wake Up", "Termination", and "File Corrupted". ~ Dusty Groove