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
Dance of Passion by Ron Blake
Back story
Originally from the Virgin Islands, Ron Blake currently resides in New York City, where he is a well-regarded big-toned hard bop tenor saxophonist. He played with Roy Hargrove and Art Farmer in the ‘90s before forming his own band. He generally leans toward the bluesy and funky side of jazz, and manages to sound classic and modern simultaneously.
Why this song
Taken from his 2005 release, Sonic Tonic, this song features an airy, exotic backdrop, striking rhythmic accents, tight harmonic chords, and Ron’s melodic yet adventurous solos. Sonic Tonic was the first full album produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, and her musical vision is evident on this re-working of the Johnny Griffin original. Ron was featured on her jazz release, The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel, and they complement each other nicely.
More info
All Music
All About Jazz
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Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010
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