With the release of Grady Nichols & Friends - Live!, the Oklahoma-based saxophonist celebrates 25 years as one of contemporary jazz’s most versatile recording artists – an era that’s found him crossing from Smooth Jazz to R&B to Christian pop, earning multiple awards and opening for Ray Charles, Pavarotti, Wayman Tisdale and The Beach Boys. Capturing the multi-faceted, stylistically eclectic magic of his live performances, the action-packed, funky, rockin’ and sensual 110 minute set finds Nichols having a blast on a mix of originals – including two dazzling Jeff Lorber collaborations from Nichols’ 2004 album Sophistication - and dynamic re-imaginings of classic pop tunes (David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates) featuring an array of guests, including Lorber, Chris Rodriguez, Andy Chrisman, Rachael Lampa and Bill Champlin.
Travis Duo’s debut album is a collection of improvisations done based on a set of line drawings and diagrams drawn during lucid dreams. Recorded by legendary producer Martin Bisi at his studio in Brooklyn NY, "HYPNAGOGIA" a bold and honest 1st album by the pair pushing abstractions whilst gently nestling on their pop roots. The kaleidoscopic overtones of the sitar dance elegantly with the charismatic and eloquent contrabass, provoking dreamers to kenopsia-tic drawers of the sub-consciousness; psychedelic with a mean right hook, at times eruptive like a feral animal ready to bite, to long deep bows that stretch across the glittering night sky reaching through to your deepest of nightmares lurking at the bottom of oceanic abyss. Featuring: Daniel Carter on flute and saxophones, the NYC Jazz veteran weaves through the tapestry of colours painted by Sean McCaul on xylophone, as Devin Brahja Waldman poetically releases the spirits summoned by the dynamic drumming of Niko Wood moving mountains and parting the clouds to a brighter future.
This is Jonny's first full venture into his beloved jungle/D&B after building a catalogue of downtempo, hip hop and broken beat which earned him accolades like Gilles Peterson's Best of 2020. (Link for this release also below, along with the new Liam de Bruin single). The EP features the northern jungle soul stormer 'Open My Eyes' (think Amerie's '1 Thing' at 170bpm), the atmospheric drumfunk of 'Create' and the rework of Jonny's own hip hop tune 'Stay in Your Lane' with the slinky soulful rap and hooks of US MC Lady K. The amen G-funk banger 'Nuthin' But a Jungle Thang' is a vinyl bonus track. The reception for Jonny's new music has been really encouraging so far, coming from both D&B circles and more eclectic music messengers, including Bandcamp, René LaVice, Rupture/Rinse FM, Hospital, Bolting Bits, 3RRR, KCRW, Skankandbass, DNB Dojo, etc. There's been a nice little buzz around the vinyl version too with its bonus track and the limited die cut felt cover edition.
After making head-turning guest appearances on recently released albums from labelmates Benny Barksdale, Jr. and The Society Hill Orchestra, rising vocalist Ter-Ree headlines this ticker stopping rendition of a brand-new track written by veteran Philly Soul producer Butch Ingram - the aptly named “Heart Attack." The Society Hill A-team, The Ingram Brothers Band, returns the guest turn favor by laying down the music and Cindy Ingram, Toni Richards and Sharon Ingram provide backing vocals.
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