Full Audio: José James ft. Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
We’ve long been singing the praises of the the live band José James has out together, but this is just on another level. James and crew headed out to Amsterdam to team up with Amsterdam’s Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) for a performance captured by Het Radio 4 Concerthuis.
NEXT Collective: Chris Dunn (Producer)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we are bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record. Our last interview is with Chris Dunn, Senior A&R at Concord Records and Producer of the NEXT Collective.
NEXT Collective: Christian “aTunde Adjuah” Scott (Trumpet)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Christian Scott brought one of the heaviest tunes to ‘Cover Art’ in arranging “No Church In The Wild” off of Jay-Z & Kanye’s ‘Watch the Throne.’ As a special guest and “quasi-producer,” Scott brought us some insight and storytelling from the process in a style very much his own. Check out what he had to say.
NEXT Collective: Matt Stevens (Guitar)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! This past week we spoke with guitarist Matt Stevens who arranged “Oceans” by Pearl Jam for ‘Cover Art.’
Video Roundup 2/15/13
This past week has not only been a great one for music, but also tons of videos from some of our favorite artists. Check out below for some must-see media from Robert Glasper & Derrick Hodge, Christian Sands & Kris Bowers, and Ric’key Pageot & Dessy Di Lauro!
NEXT Collective: Gerald Clayton (Piano)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Today we have a great interview with Gerald Clayton, one of two pianists on the record, who arranged D’Angelo’s “Africa” for ‘Cover Art.’
NEXT Collective: Walter Smith III (Tenor Sax)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Check out tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III who arranged Bon Iver’s “Perth” for ‘Cover Art.”
NEXT Collective: Jamire Williams (Drums)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Today we’re interviewing drummer Jamire Williams who arranged “Refractions In The Plastic Pulse” by Stereolab for ‘Cover Art.”
NEXT Collective: Kris Bowers (Piano)
Leading up to the February 26th release of ‘Cover Art,’ we will be bringing you interviews with the musicians and previews of the songs each one arranged for the record, so check back with us often! Today we’ve got an interview with Kris Bowers, one of two pianists on the record, who arranged “Wonderfox” by The Stepkids and “Little Brother” by Grizzly Bear for ‘Cover Art.”
NEXT Collective: Ben Williams (Bass)
Concord Records’ NEXT Collective brings together what many are calling the supergroup of this generation of musicians. Combining the talents of Ben Williams, Christian Scott, Matt Stevens, Jamire Williams, Kris Bowers, Walter Smith III, Logan Richardson and Gerald Clayton, these musicians give some credence to the term “supergroup.” Originally conceived by Chris Dunn, Senior A&R at Concord, the record moves past the outdated “jazz” labeling and delves into the more pop-oriented influences of these incredible musicians.
2/26: The NEXT Collective Cover Art Album Release Concert
Get ready NYC! Tuesday, Feb. 26th is the premier and album release concert of The NEXT Collective at Le Poisson Rouge. Featuring rising stars: saxophonists Logan Richardson and Walter Smith III, guitarist Matthew Stevens, keyboardists Gerald Clayton and Kris Bowers, bassist Ben Williams, drummer Jamire Williams, and special guest trumpeter Christian Scott (aka Christian aTunde Adjuah).
José James Performs “Trouble” on Conan
This week José James performed “Trouble” off of his upcoming album No Beginning, No End on the Conan O’Brien Show. As always it was a stellar performance with his band that boasts Kris Bowers on keys/piano, Solomon Dorsey on bass, Nate Smith on drums, Takuya Kuroda on trumpet, and Corey King on trombone. This is without a doubt one of the baddest live bands around now.
NEXT Collective Drops EP
A new project dropped this morning exclusively on iTunes featuring the likes of Christian Scott, Matt Stevens, Jamire Williams, Ben Williams, Kris Bowers, Walter Smith III, Logan Richardson and Gerald Clayton. They are calling themselves the NEXT Collective and have dropped a sneak peak of the project on Concord Records in the form of a three-song EP.
Kris Bowers: Layering In The Organ
We caught up with Kris Bowers the other day to get the facts on some rumors we had been hearing around town about him picking up the organ in addition to his repertoire of skills. He gives us the story on how and why he took up the organ in the past year as well as what he’s working on now (HINT – Debut Record!). Read on as we break it all down.
Jose James Performs the Music of Billie Holiday
Our feature media for the day features the full concert stream of Jose James performing the music of Billie Holiday in Belgium Ancienne Belgique. Throughout the 88 minutes and 54 seconds, James and his band re-interpret the beautiful yearning and raw emotion Billie Holiday possessed in her voice and music. The group does a nice job of staying true to the music while still making it their own.
Kris Bowers Presents Snapback at TPAC
Check out the indelible Kris Bowers performing as part of the Monk in Motion series at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center tomorrow 1/28/12. Between his all-star band (Casey Benjamin, Kenneth Whalum III, Burniss Travis, and Joe Saylor) and a special guest list that encompasses some of his frequent collaborators (Jose James, Taylor McFerrin, MIke Cottone & Jehbreal Muhammad), Bowers continues to represent a major impact on the scene.
Win Free Tickets to Kris Bowers at TPAC
Check out this opportunity to win a pair of tickets to go see the ever evolving pianist Kris Bowers perform at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in NYC this Saturday 1/28/12. Winners will be notified by January 25th!
Jose James No Beginning, No End
he consistently busy Jose James has announced the lineup for his upcoming album No Beginning, No End and to say it’s intriguing would be an understatement. With the likes of Robert Glasper, Kris Bowers, Pino Palladino, Chris Dave, Richard Spaven, Emily King, and more.
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.
Live Recording: Jose James ft. Guests
Check out this explosive live recording of Jose James at the Triple Door in Seattle from 12/6/11. His band for the night included a talented cast of musicians, each known for exemplary musicianship and creativity in their own right. James hit the stage with Kris Bowers on piano, Solomon Dorsey on bass, Takuya Kuroda on trumpet, and Nate Smith on drums.
Kris Bowers at the Jazz Gallery
Check out Kris Bowers this Thursday 12/1 with an all-star group of musicians backing him up at the Jazz Gallery. The group will consist of Bowers on piano, Godwin Louis on alto sax, Kenneth Whalum III on tenor sax, Burniss Earl Travis on bass, Joe Saylor on drums, and some surprise special guests in the roster as well.
