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.’
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: 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).
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.
Ambrose Akinmusire at the Jazz Standard
For many reasons, Ambrose Akinmusire has received high, widespread praise for his debut on Blue Note Records, When the Heart Emerges Glistening. The title alone suggests that the album’s contents are more than a collection of swinging tunes. To hear the stories behind each song, and the album as a whole, it’s clear that Akinmusire is doing more than fancily tooting a horn.
Ambrose Akinmusire Announces Tour Dates and Album Artwork
Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire has announced his upcoming tour dates to support his debut album When the Heart Emerges Glistening on Blue Note. He will be playing with his quintet featuring Walter Smith III, Sam Harris, Harish Raghavan, and Justin Brown.
