6/16: The Revive Big Band f. Savion Glover at Blue Note Jazz Festival
The legendary tap musician Savion Glover will be joining the Revive Big Band for their Blue Note Festival performance on 6/16 at Highline Ballroom featuring a slew of todays greatest musicians, led by trumpeter Igmar Thomas.
Winter JazzFest 2013: Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life
In preparation for Winter JazzFest this weekend we dropped by the rehearsal for Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life to get a sneak peak of this all-star band featuring Strickland on saxes, the legendary Ku-umba Frank Lacy on trombone, Yuki Hirano holding down the keys, Mark Kelley on bass, Charles Haynes on the drums, and emcee Raydar Ellis on the mic.
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).
10/2: Gizmo Red Balloon Album Release Party f. Casey Benjamin + Guests
Gizmo is set to unveil his debut sonic masterpiece Red Balloon, produced by bassist Derrick Hodge (Robert Glasper Experiment, Kanye West, Common) with glints of spoken word and soul, Red Balloon is a wondrous 13-track odyssey through the multi-faceted human experience. NYC record release will be held at DROM on Oct. 2nd f. saxophonist, Casey Benjamin, DJ Raydar Ellis, Nick Hakim and Joy Daniels.
“Under the Radar” by Endangered Speeches
Bringing together a multinational group of Berklee students, Endangered Speeches, the creative brainchild of Greek MC /singer/composer/arranger Mariletta Konstantara, fills a meaty space in between instrumental hip-hop and reggae. We are extremely excited to drop the video for their single “Under the Radar” (featuring Berklee teacher and MC/Producer/DJ Brian “Raydar” Ellis).
8/27: The Revive Big Band f. Pharoahe Monch at Blue Note Jazz Club
If The Revive Big Band is a “19-piece jazz army” (Complex Magazine), then what is their fight? Formed in 2010, the Big Band began as a “wouldn’t it be cool if…” kind of idea, where composer, arranger and trumpeter Igmar Thomas wanted to unite generations of like-minded musicians in presenting a new age of big bands. The project has grown to become one of the most exciting and imaginative bands – big or otherwise – in New York.
Tonight! ATCQ Big Band Tribute & J Dilla Ensemble at Harlem Stage
Tonight, ATCQ big band tribute at Aaron Davis Hall and tomorrow night, the first ever J Dilla Foundation performs in tribute to ATCQ at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse with special guests.
3/1-3/3 – A Tribe Called Quest Innovations & Legacies: A Movement in 4 Parts
Harlem Stage’s Uptown Night’s presents, A Tribe Called Quest Innovations & Legacies: A Movement in 4 Parts held on March 1-3rd at The Gatehouse and Marian Anderson Theater. On March 1st, Harlem Stage hosts an artist and industry panel discussion, March 2nd, a performance by The Revive da live big band at Marian Anderson Theater with special guests and on March 3rd a very special performance by The J Dilla Ensemble from Berkee College of Music with special guests, all in tribute to ATCQ.
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.
SXSW 2011 Panel: The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz (Part II)
We invite you to experience the panel on “The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz” moderated by Raydar Ellis in a a 2 part series. A hand selected group of the panelists discuss the revival of jazz music through its marriage with hip-hop. Panelists talk about GURU’s legacy, how the use of new technologies has redefined the concept of jazz (formerly known as a genre stuck in a state of unchangeability) and what Miles Davis would play if he was still alive.
SXSW 2011 Panel: The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz (Part 1)
We invite you to experience the SXSW panel on “The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz” moderated by Raydar Ellis in a a 2 part series. A hand selected group of the panelists discuss the revival of jazz music through its marriage with hip-hop. Panelists talk about GURU’s legacy, how the use of new technologies has redefined the concept of jazz (formerly known as a genre stuck in a state of unchangeability) and what Miles Davis would play if he was still alive.
The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz Panel at SXSW
On Wednesday, March 16th, Meghan Stabile (Founder/President of Revive Music Group), will be presenting on a SXSW panel moderated by Brian “Raydar” Ellis (Revive’s resident creative mastermind) on “The Intersection of Hip-Hop and Jazz.” They will share the roundtable discussion with Vince and Erin, as well as DJ Logic, and Andre Torres (Founder/Publisher of Wax Poetics).
Respect the Architect: DJs Are Musicians
“One of the things that we have now more than ever is portable technology. The lines between what you can do in a studio and what you can do on a stage now are getting blurred…I’ve seen bands now triggering live samples on stage alongside a horn section with a DJ on the side.”
-Raydar Ellis
DJ/Producer Round Table: Teo Macero’s Imprint
You have to have been living on a remote island without people to not know who Miles Davis is, but yet few have heard of Teo Macero. Teo is arguably the creative mastermind behind Bitches Brew, who had such a meticulous and distinct style to his craft that he changed entirely the landscape of music production, and employed a cutting and splicing technique that was the precursor to the huge take off of sampling later seen in hip-hop. The Revivalist interviewed some of our favorite DJ/Producers—Rob Swift, Raydar Ellis, Carlos Nino, and DJ Logic —to gain their insight about Teo’s imprint on American music and the advent of new technologies to the music studio that lead to the evolution or devolution (depending on who you ask) of sound.
Charlie Parker Revisited – Live Recording
Charlie Parker Revisited by Revive Music Live Recording by: Revive Da Live: Charlie Parker Revisited at the 2010 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival held at Marcus Garvy Park on August 28th presented by City Parks Foundation produced by Revive Music Group Line Up: Raydar Ellis – MC/DJ Marc Cary – Keys Ben Williams – Bass Justin [...]
A Taste of New York Jazz ….
The Revivalist has Launched! Check out our teaser …
The Revivalist highlights the groundbreaking and gifted musicians that educate, inspire and transform audiences through their live musicianship. By illuminating the renewal of jazz, synthesized with the influences of hip-hop, the site is at the heart of a cultural resurgence of live music.
Freedom Suite x The Revivalist x Nublu Jazz Festival
October 26th launches Okayplayers new jazz inspired blog, The Revivalist in conjunction with the release of “Freedom Suite. November 11th we celebrate it all.
