Mark de Clive-Lowe’s CHURCH Live at The Breeding Ground NYC
While each musician brought their own sound to the table, the group as a whole gelled extremely well. Nia Andrews gracefully commanded the melodies of the tracks, and Robinson’s verses were on point. Jaleel Shaw was an absolute freak of nature, ripping over the changes while de Clive-Lowe added filters, delays, and other assorted effects with his samplers. Kelley and Smith locked like a glove, providing a strong backbone to the overlying ethereal layers of synths, percussion, and samples.
Feature Media: The Lee Morgan Story 11/29/12
With the Lee Morgan Story taking on new life this past week at Le Poisson Rouge, we’ve got some new insight into the project and a collection of great video and photos from the historic night that saw legendary trumpeter Wallace Roney take the stage in tribute to the late Lee Morgan. Originally brought to us by the dynamic duo of Ben Williams and John Robinson, the night also featured Marc Cary on keys, Justin Brown on drums, Leron Thomas on trumpet, and Raydar Ellis (DJ/Emcee).
12/7: CHURCH w/ Mark de Clive-Lowe, DJ Questlove, Casey Benjamin for our 1 Year Anniversary
Revive Music Presents: Mark de Clive-Lowe , DJ Questlove (The Roots) + Casey Benjamin (Robert Glasper Experiment) & Special Guests For Monthly Series, CHURCH. Residency Celebrates its One Year Anniversary at DROM on December 7th.
11/29: The Lee Morgan Story f. Ben Williams, John Robinson & Leron Thomas
Lee Morgan is remembered as one of the greatest trumpet players to ever grace the hallowed halls of jazz. In his short lifetime, he managed to record over 25 albums, several of which are still considered classics, and have influenced innumerable musicians to hit the scene since his death.
10/5: CHURCH with Mark de Clive-Lowe f. Eric Harland, James Genus + Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
Join us as CHURCH continues with world-renowned DJ, producer, remixer, composer, musician, and Tru Thoughts recording artist Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL), alongside resident vocalist Nia Andrews (Janelle Monae/Common), James Genus (Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock) on bass, Eric Harland (Joshua Redman/McCoy Tyner) on drums, resident MC John Robinson (Lil Sci/Scienz of Life) and Special Guest Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
JR & PVD Drop “Miles & Trane”
In commemoration of what would have been John Coltrane’s 86th birthday on 9/23/12, John Robinson and Pat Van Dkye are dropping a track entitled “Miles & Trane” from their forthcoming album. “We just really did the song in commemoration to them both. I felt like it was a cool idea just because it’s been 45 years since his passing and still today he is one of the cats that people know most when you even say “jazz music” all over the world.”
John Robinson & Ben Williams Talk Lee Morgan Story on WBGO
The “Lee Morgan Story” collaboration grew from John Robinson and J. Rawl’s brilliant 2009 album The 1960′s “Jazz Revolution Again.” The album is a celebration of the connections of jazz and hip-hop and it is on this album that “The Lee Morgan Story” was first heard. On this tune John Robinson serves as not only an emcee but a story teller and historian. Acclaimed bassist Ben Williams recreated the tune and released it on his debut album State of the Art with a jazz band that features trumpeter Christian Scott.
Best 2011 Features: The Hip Hop & Jazz Debate
Since this Issue is a major focus of our site, we decided to re-launch Issue No. 2 The Hip Hop and Jazz Debate, which came out in Jan. of 2011. If you didn’t get a chance to read through all of our great features, now is your chance to go through them one by one, including a lengthy list of album reviews. Top Features from this Issue include Weldon Irvine, Respect the Architect: DJs Are Musicians, Word on Rap: The Vocal Instrument, Jazz Poetry, Rap: Cause and Effect of the Black Arts Movement, Insane in the Left Brain and DJ with Live Band vs DJ with Emcee.
The Lee Morgan Story
It is up to us, meaning us literally and people like us who are doing what we do. I guess my sentiment would be I’m down for anything that elevates the music and can trickle down and put younger people on a path of being able to take from the greatness and utilize it. Whether they are literally participating by playing the music or they are just listening and getting inspired and moving into their passion and dream from it. Personally I would like to see what we’ve already done and started to expand more whether it is us doing it or other people. It is healthy for the music and it’s definitely a thing that will cause nothing more than love, peace, and happiness.
State of an Artist: Ben Williams
Ben spent an afternoon with The Revivalist on a sunny afternoon in Brooklyn, and talked to us about the years of accumulated work that made it on this project, why the bass became his creative outlet, and why he reps his hometown of D.C. Enjoy the interview and the photos from Ben’s photo shoot with Rehes Creative.
The Lee Morgan Story f. Ben Williams & John Robinson
Lee Morgan is remembered as one of the greatest trumpet players to ever grace the hallowed halls of jazz. In his short lifetime, he managed to record over 25 albums, several of which are still considered classics, and have influenced innumerable musicians to hit the scene since his death. Concord Records recording artist Ben Williams and New York-based emcee John Robinson collaborate in tribute in a way never seen before.
2 Must See Shows: The Blue Note Jazz Festival
Blue Note Jazz Festival, two must see shows! June 10th at 92Y featuring Derrick Hodge and The Kendrick Scott “Oracle” with Special Guest Alan Hampton and on June 13th, a night of Hip Hop and Jazz featuring Igmar Thomas & The Cypher with Special Guest MC Raydar Ellis and The Lee Morgan Story with bassist Ben Williams and Special Guest MC John Robinson
Igmar Thomas & The Cypher at the Blue Note Jazz Festival
The Blue Note Jazz festival which celebrates the 30 years anniversary of The Blue Note, dedicates an entire night to the young movers and shakers who are intersecting jazz with the younger American vernacular of hip-hop. The event will be at Mercury Lounge, beginning at 8pm. The line up includes: Igmar Thomas feat. Marcus Strickland & Raydar Ellis, The Lee Morgan Story Featuring John Robinson and Ben Williams, Mental Notes, and Spokkin Movement.
The Beast’s Guru Legacy EP
After weeks of anticipation, the Revivalist is pleased to announce the full release of The Beast’s Guru Legacy EP, brought to you by Pierce Freelon, Eric Hirsh, Peter Kimosh, and Stephen Coffman along with a slew of special guests. The Guru Legacy EP consists of several jazz arrangements from the Jazzmatazz catalogue, as well as sample-based remixes of those arrangements, by various hip-hop producers.
Guru Legacy EP: “Keep Your Worries | B-Sides”
Guru Legacy consists of several jazz arrangements from the Jazzmatazz catalogue, as well as sample-based remixes of those arrangements, by various Hip Hop producers. Look for more Guru: Legacy this May.
Preview: The Guru Legacy EP
Last week we brought you “Keep Your Worries” from The Beast’s upcoming Guru Legacy EP. This week we have a behind-the-scenes look at the recording process and an interview with Beast-master and emcee, Pierce Freelon.
Exclusive Track from The Beast’s Guru Legacy
The Beast, a hip-hop quartet comprised of Pierce Freelon, Eric Hirsh, Stephen Coffman, and Peter Kamosh are preparing to release their latest EP, Guru Legacy, aimed at reinterpreting some of Guru’s tracks and digging into the effect Guru had on musicians in both the hip-hop and jazz realms — two places they know very well. In the weeks leading up to the Revive Da Live Big Band Tribute to G.U.R.U. we will be releasing new material from the EP including tracks, remixes, videos, and interviews with captivating musicians who have been influenced by Guru.
J. Rawls and John Robinson The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again
(Polar Entertainment) 2009 Could it be argued that this is a concept album of the highest order? Yes. The title alone does a defense of that theory more than enough justice. The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again seems to have been conceived as much to focus upon honoring the work of Jazz giants, as it was [...]
