Yesterday I began working on my new single and I've decided to do something risky. It will either a) yield exciting, stellar results b) go disastrously wrong or c) do nothing at all. I'm of course hoping for c...oh wait, maybe A! So what is it I'm in the lab concocting these days? Drum roll please... I'm diving head first into my very own rendition of a Prince classic. If you're keen enough you've probably already figured out which song I'm doing.
The band went in yesterday to lay down the basic skeleton of the song. By the end of the session we joked that there were at least FOUR different styles of music going on all in one song. We started off rock, then somewhere along the line we hit a Latin feel, then hip-hop but to top it all off my guitarist pulls out a sitar that was perched nearby, giving us a middle eastern flair to mesh with all of the other sounds we already had going. At the end of the day I'm happy with what we've done so far but I hope to edit everything down to one clear distinct sound. I head back tomorrow to finish up and lay down my vocals. Even though its scary to do a Prince song, because Prince fans take his music very seriously, (as they should... the man is an iconic legend) I'm super excited about it!
Yesterday also marked day one of filming for my new documentary American Soul. I will have to create another post to talk about that project so stay tuned for that. I've got a lot more in store. Hope everyone is ready...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Three for the price of a steal
Somewhere in the middle of the second set of the night I stood in the middle of NUBLU in amazement and then turned to my friend and said: I can't believe we only paid $10 for this...
I went to a Revive Da Live event last night with some friends. I went to support my homegirl Melanie Charles who was with her band The Journey. When I first got there she was talking some nonsense about being hoarse, but of course as per usual she slayed her entire set doing some originals from her debut album as well as covers from two of my absolute favorite artists: Stevie and Lauryn (I'm on a first name basis with both of them). I always love seeing Melanie perform. Anytime she's on stage you just get the notion the she was born to do it.
I stayed for the second set because my friend Lenny has for the last few month been singing the praises of one Jean Baylor who you may remember as one half of the 90s duo Zhane. (she's the light skinned one) She's featured in her husband, Marcus Baylor's band Free Day. You may remember him as the drummer from the Yellowjackets. side note: Sea Folk by the Yellowjackets still remains my all time favorite jazz song. When Free Day, which last night consisted of simply Marcus and a keyboardist name Yuki, took the stage it was an experience unlike any other that I've ever had the chance to encounter. I'm not even sure I can describe in words the level of musicianship, excellence, beauty and creativity that took place on that stage. There was one point in the night when Yuki began to solo on Great Is Thy Faithfulness (yes...hymns in the night club) and I was actually moved to tears...but I didn't let my friends catch me being soft. Then my mind was blown when Ms. Baylor took to the mic and effortlessly slayed every single note that left her lips. I heard a fellow audience member say after their set that it was a master class in musicianship and I must say that I agree.
I wasn't able to stay for the final set but I've seen Mavis Swan Poole and her Soul Understated band perform before and I know that they were no less magnificent this time around than the last time I saw them. Three amazing bands with talent out of this world for a $10 cover...just a typical night in NYC. I love this town.
I went to a Revive Da Live event last night with some friends. I went to support my homegirl Melanie Charles who was with her band The Journey. When I first got there she was talking some nonsense about being hoarse, but of course as per usual she slayed her entire set doing some originals from her debut album as well as covers from two of my absolute favorite artists: Stevie and Lauryn (I'm on a first name basis with both of them). I always love seeing Melanie perform. Anytime she's on stage you just get the notion the she was born to do it.
I stayed for the second set because my friend Lenny has for the last few month been singing the praises of one Jean Baylor who you may remember as one half of the 90s duo Zhane. (she's the light skinned one) She's featured in her husband, Marcus Baylor's band Free Day. You may remember him as the drummer from the Yellowjackets. side note: Sea Folk by the Yellowjackets still remains my all time favorite jazz song. When Free Day, which last night consisted of simply Marcus and a keyboardist name Yuki, took the stage it was an experience unlike any other that I've ever had the chance to encounter. I'm not even sure I can describe in words the level of musicianship, excellence, beauty and creativity that took place on that stage. There was one point in the night when Yuki began to solo on Great Is Thy Faithfulness (yes...hymns in the night club) and I was actually moved to tears...but I didn't let my friends catch me being soft. Then my mind was blown when Ms. Baylor took to the mic and effortlessly slayed every single note that left her lips. I heard a fellow audience member say after their set that it was a master class in musicianship and I must say that I agree.
I wasn't able to stay for the final set but I've seen Mavis Swan Poole and her Soul Understated band perform before and I know that they were no less magnificent this time around than the last time I saw them. Three amazing bands with talent out of this world for a $10 cover...just a typical night in NYC. I love this town.
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