It’s not often that you hear a saxophonist described as jovial, but it totally fits the cheery, uplifting, groove-intensive vibe, and free-flowing horn style of Isaac Norris! He follows his 2020 breakthrough hit, “Rise and Shine” (nearly 170,000 Spotify streams to date), with a similarly buoyant, funky, and dynamic new single, “No Shade.” Co-written and produced by keyboardist Marco Montoya and drummer/percussionist Kevin Lewis (aka The Smooth Jazz Alley), Norris plays it sly and smooth over a tight, funky rhythm section, and then amps up the emotional intensity with sizzling horn textures, punchy high notes, and adventurous runs. 100% smooth sunshine! ~ www.smoothjazz.com
Starfruit’ is the fifth album from LA-trio Moonchild (Amber Navran, Andris Mattson, and Max Bryk). The result of ten years spent working and growing together, ‘Starfruit’ showcases the respect, musical understanding, and love the trio have, both for each other and for the noteworthy list of collaborators featured on the album. Bringing a host of beautiful melodies and personal lyrics, ‘Starfruit’ beholds offerings from Lalah Hathaway, Alex Isley, Tank and The Bangas, Rapsody, Ill Camille, Mumu Fresh, Chantae Cann and Josh Johnson. Alongside the LP’s extensive list of featured artists, the release sees Moonchild experimenting with new synths and sounds. While still rooted in their trademark tones, these textures and sound palettes elevate ‘Starfruit’ to new and impressive Moonchild musical territory. Their first release featuring collaborations, Moonchild take the opportunity on ‘Starfruit’ to work with a number of acclaimed Black female musicians. Each providing their own ‘goosebump’ moment to ‘Starfruit’, the eclectic mix of vocals and lyrics set to the backdrop of Moonchild’s musical synergy and understanding makes for something spellbinding.
Ceremonia (“Ceremony”) is the first collaborative release between singer songwriter Luvi Torres, and producer Chancha Vía Circuito. Combining exceptional voicework with powerful creative rhythms typical of Chancha, the lyrics include mantras Luvi uses in their therapeutic exercises, thereby immersing us in a healing musical world. Taken as a whole, the album’s four tracks, Abro (“I Open”), Creo (“I Believe” or “I Create”), Sano (“I Heal”), Amo (“I Love”) encourage sensitive receptivity. Luvi’s vocals are enveloped by lush ambient dub. Chancha’s rhythms and vibrations create a comforting and calming soundscape that invites a sense of timelessness and expansion. At times Ceremonia spirals hypnotically, blurring the distinction between inner and outer worlds. This music calls for attentive listening and encourages active individual and collective reinvention.
While routing through Denver in January 2019, Swatkins and his all-star lineup were invited into Color Red Studios to lay down a track. Swatkins had the freshly half-baked track in his mind and showed the group his late-night demo, which elicited grunts of approval. From there, the band members crafted the rhythm tracks together in a ground-up collaborative effort. Michelangelo Carubba incessantly wore metronomic headphones throughout the day to lock in the pocket on drums. Andre Zapata translated the demo’s Moog bassline flawlessly on the low end. Craig Brodhead displayed effortless chemistry interlocking his phased rhythm guitar with Swatkins’ wah clavinet. Michael Elson added icing on the cake, lacing the track with a shimmering layer of gospel organ. Swatkins and More Masa honed goosebump-inducing vocals on the spot as the rhythm section recorded live. After tracking at Color Red, the tune was sent to the horn-led group The Huntertones for Jon Lampley (trumpet), Chris Ott (trombone), and Dan White (saxophones) to lay down some funky swagger while Jans Ingber (formerly of The Motet) peppered it up with percussion and Swatkins locked it down with a Moog solo over the bridge and his signature talkbox stylings on the outro
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