NEXT Collective today releases an incredible collection of covers with their CoverArt album. This collective of brilliant young jazz musicians came together with an aim to remake some popular music favorites, including the work of Little Dragon, Jay Z and Kanye West, D’Angelo, N.E.R.D, Stereolab, Drake, Meshell Ndegeocello, and on. It's a real treat. Hear their cover of Jay-Z and Kanye's "No Church In The Wild" below.

For those in the NYC area, do not miss the opportunity to watch these guys at work tonight during their album release show! More details are below. Others can watch the live stream of the release show after the jump or on the live stream site.

Enter our contest to win Cover Art

Event Details
NEXT Collective Album Release Show
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Doors 10pm / show 10:30pm

Featuring
Logan Richardson: saxophone
Walter Smith III: saxophone
Matthew Stevens: guitar
Gerald Clayton: keyboards
Ben Williams: bass
Jamire Williams: drums
and special guest Christian Scott: trumpet

DJ Set from Rich Medina

Tickets: $15 advance / $18 doors
Purchase tickets

Le Poisson Rouge
New York, NY

Purchase Cover Art on iTunes | Amazon

Live stream of release show tonight after the jump

A group of immensely talented jazz musicians have come together as the NEXT Collective to release some amazing covers. The one we have for your today is of none other than D'Angelo's "Africa."

Look out for CoverArt to drop on February 26. Additional covers will include interpretations of work by Little Dragon, Stereolab, and Me’shell Ndegeocello, amongst others.

Always the tastemaker extraordinaire, Mark de Clive-Lowe, presents us with a preview of an awesome project some great young jazz musicians have embarked on. NEXT Collective: The Mixtape introduces us to NEXT Collective and their upcoming album set to cover some of their favorite artists and 'reinterpret them from a jazz perspective.' Covered artists include Little Dragon, Jay Z and Kanye West, D’Angelo, N.E.R.D, Stereolab, Drake, Meshell Ndegeocello, and on.

Members of NEXT Collective include Logan Richardson (sax), Walter Smith III (sax), Matthew Stevens (guitar), Gerald Clayton (keys), Kris Bowers (keys), Ben Williams (bass), Jamire Williams (drums) and guest trumpeter Christian Scott.

Absolutely love it when worlds collide like this. Stream and download below!

Mark de Clive-Lowe presents NEXT Collective: The Mixtape [Download on Sendspace]

Facebook | Twitter | Official Site

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/7JXkQoW9rWM" width="550" height="445" allowfullscreen="true" fvars="fs=1" /]

Earlier today, miss Janelle Monae unveiled a new tune from a fellow Wondaland artist Roman GianArthur. And man, is the guy a talent. The above is his new track that mashes together D'Angelo's "Send It On" with Radiohead's "High & Dry." Freakin' sexy. What the hell.

Dude sounds like a blend between Van Hunt, Bilal, and some fresh 'n new radio R&B youngin'. Can't compete with that. Oh, we mention that ol' boy over here also produced the track? No biggie.

Twitter | Tumblr

As you must now know, the launch of our new monthly, Offline, at Irving Plaza with Q-Tip is now only a few days away. We recently caught up with Q-Tip to get the low down on this summer's new go to party, amongst a few other juicy tidbits.

Giant Step: Congratulations on your new monthly party, Offline! How are you feeling about the launch?

Q-Tip: I feel good about it. Hopefully folks will come ready to dance, be open minded, and ready to enjoy different types of music. And you know, take it to a time where New York was bred for partying and not just kinda standing around - like a real dance party.

GS: What can partygoers expect to see and hear at Offline?

Q-Tip: They can hear any and everything, man. From a lot of dance and disco and boogie music, a lot of boogie music to lots of salsa, hip hop, dub. Old school hip hop, that is - a lot of that. A lot of funk. Afro Cuban, Afro Beat, rare groove. Electronic. Classic stuff! Also I had a DJ booth specially designed which is an art piece. The creator is a wonderful artist called Susan Linss. At each party she will add a new piece of art which is really exciting!

GS: Do you have a certain philosophy around the music you put play when you DJ?

Q-Tip: My philosophy depends on the type of party, but usually for my type of parties my philosophy is to keep people dancing and exchanging that energy coming out of themselves. You know, you work all week or you go through what you go through not to come and stand around and Twitpic or Instagram stuff and put it on Twitter. You come to be offline, to experience it, to dance, to feel the music. So my philosophy is to encourage that.

GS: When you think about great NY parties of the past what were some of your favorites?

Q-Tip: My favorite parties were like Mars, Studio 54, Red Zone, The Garage, Bassline, Love Light (not Limelight) - Love Light was dope, the original Nell’s, The World, Life, Save The Robot. So many places.

Read the rest of the interview after the jump