Browse Posts
Soul great Don Blackman has passed. In addition to releasing his self-titled solo album, the Queens born jazz-funk pianist, singer/songwriter, and producer played with Parliament/Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Roy Ayers.
He also had a hand in the works of many influential pop icons of our age, including Janet Jackson, Sting, 2Pac, and Jay-Z.
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
Justin Timberlake last week gave us a teaser foreshadowing his upcoming album that he's now revealed to be named The 20/20 Experience. He's now also released the first single called "Suit & Tie." The upbeat Timbaland produced track features none other than Jay-Z. Along with it has already come a remix by sir Ryan Leslie, which you can also hear below. Not surprisingly, this first release is on the more glossy side of his repertoire, we'd say.
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]
The legendary Blue Note Records today releases their brand new Spotify app! Journey the label's entire catalog from 1939 to present, spanning everything from "Jazz to Jay-Z." Christmas might have come early, if we do say so ourselves. And we are so excited to share the scoop on this one with y'all.
The app allows you to traverse the historic evolution of Blue Note in a profound way:
"from the early jazz of Sidney Bechet to the trailblazing bebop of Thelonious Monk, from Art Blakey’s quintessential hardbop thru Ornette Coleman’s avant-garde flights, from Jimmy Smith’s grinding organ soul jazz leading to Donald Byrd’s funky R&B fusion and on into today’s modern explorations such as Robert Glasper’s unique blend of jazz with hip hop, and beyond."
Explore the Blue Note catalog using your choice of filter (musical style, era, or instrument), a timeline, or styles (traditions, groove, voices). The app also offers the ability to see who sampled each Blue Note record. Users can purchase Blue Note merch using the app as well. Below, Rolling Stone breaks down the limitless playground that is the sample tracking portal:
"Blue Note partnered with the hip-hop sample database WhoSampled.com for a feature that shows how its catalog has also been matriculated into pop, providing side-by-side examples of the original Blue Note recording and the way it was used. For instance, a drum break from bebop saxophonist Lou Donaldson's 1969 take on the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing" found its way onto Madonna's 1994 cut "I'd Rather Be Your Lover," as well as tracks by De La Soul, Joe and Puff Daddy; in the app, you can listen to them all instantly."
The screen shots of the app in action are a great way to wrap your head around the richness of the app. Check 'em after the jump - pretty freakin' incredible it all is.
After peeping the screen shots, pick up a few more details on our release page and the Rolling Stone article.
Download the app for free and get to diggin!
