Song
Butterfly by the Robert Glasper Experiment
Back story
Robert Glasper is a Texas-born pianist currently residing in New York City. He grew up musically in the church, where he mixed gospel and jazz harmonies. He is equally comfortable in a traditional jazz setting (playing with folks such as Christian McBride and Terence Blanchard) as well as a hip-hop setting (playing with folks such as Jay-Z, Bilal, Kanye West, Q-Tip, Mos Def, and Maxwell).
Why this song
Who says the vocoder is dead? This is a great cover of the ‘70s Herbie Hancock tune off Robert’s 2009 release, Double Booked, whose 1st half is acoustic jazz and 2nd half incorporates electronic and funk elements. While no one can touch Herbie’s electric piano playing, Robert’s version has more energy, a modern groove, and none of the now-cheesy synthesizer strings. Adding a twist, Casey Benjamin is featured on vocoder, which complements the retro sound and yet takes it in a new direction. Also worth noting is that all the songs on this album were recorded live in the studio, most on the 1st take, including this track.
More info
All Music
Jazz.com interview
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Song
The Story Behind The Pain by Tumi and the Volume
Back story
Tumi and the Volume is a South African group that has recently reached an international audience. In 2002, MC Tumi Molekane met a Johannesburg-area house band during an open mic poetry night and the group was formed. They are a musically and lyrically progressive band, who Mos Def calls “The Roots of Africa.” Enough said.
Why this song
This song showcases Tumi’s conversational MC style, and the group’s musicality, including jazz guitar and yes, a trombone solo! This track is from their self-titled album, recorded in 2005, released locally in 2006, and finally available worldwide in 2009. If you like world music and hip-hop, this is a group worth exploring.
More info
All Music
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Buy it
Amazon MP3
eMusic MP3
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