New Release: "Mecca" EP

A short but sweet, 3 track EP, inspired by and conceived as a nod to the often overlooked emcee/singer/artist, Ladybug Mecca, formerly of Digable Planets.

I've done several remixes in the past of Mecca's verse from the Digable song, "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)", because it is favorite song/verse of mine.  Earlier this year, I decided to give it another go and  I dug the vibe of the new remix so much that I decided to go a step further, taking it from being simply a "remix" or "edit" and turning it into a new song, w/ the vocals rising and cresting within the current of the song arrangement, which is comprised of 2 movements.

Accompanying the title piece are two instrumental pieces:  "Those Rhythms" which is a deeply percussive track and "Check Your Time Piece" is a soulful, broken beat styled number.

Created with intentions of a release on 7" vinyl (fingers crossed), the short song times have a depth within the arrangements which I believe will have high replay value for the listener.

This project is a summation of many influences.  Musically speaking, artists such as Marcos Valle, James Brown, Herbie Mann, Madlib, amongst others, have all been influences of late.  Due equal - if not greater - credit are the recent events which have shaped my personal life, and I tried to communicate that through the music as well.

Respect due to Ladybug Mecca & all of those who helped me bring this project to fruition!

Credits:
Produced & Arranged by Bruce Geter-Richards
Cover drawing by Cory Bowman
Layout & Collage by Bruce Geter-Richards
Liner Notes by Charles Adams
"Mecca" contains portions "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" performed by Digable Planets

New Release, "Trilla Soul"

First in a series of singles I will be releasing in during the year, Trilla Soul is an expression in audio of a game which I was born to love:  Basketball.

A mixture of grace, power, and personal style, the game of basketball is the physical embodiment of the gut-deep feelings that music channels through our ears.  As I've grown as a person, I've come to realize this relationship, and thus I have been able to better express myself and communicate with others (understanding -----> growth).  Verbal communication is the dominate, but not the definitive form of communication.  I do not believe there can be a definitive form of communication because I believe there are expressions which do not clearly translate between forms (visual, verbal, physical).  In the case of this single, I believe that the absence of vocals allows one to shake the constraints of words and their definitions, while concentrating more on elements of non-verbal, expression through sound.

Note:  From my point of view as an artist, I feel as if there is much fuss made in regards to describing contemporary music of the day.  Adjective after adjective, relations in sound to artists of the past ("take ____ , mix it with ____, and you'll arrive at the sound of ______"), and while this may work great for ramping up interest (attracting unfamiliar ears), I believe that ultimately, in an over-analytic world, this kind of meticulous definition does a disservice to the artist(s) in which it is trying to describe.

Jazzy

Spiritual, Free, and Brazilian...

A few highlights from a recent trip to NYC, courtesy of Good Records and A-1.

Harlem Bush Music is a trans-Atlantic homecoming...a joyful chorus shouting...an offering from man to nature...musically, a new world evolution of a spiritual people, centered on old world tradition.

'Coon Bid'Ness is an intensely soulful outing by avant reed man Julius Hemphill. Bluesy-free jazz with amazing horn work by Hemphill and side men Arthur Blythe (alto sax), Hamiet Bluiett (baritone sax), and Baikida E. J. Carroll (trumpet).

Heavy Spirits is another great LP in the Arista Freedom series. On side A, Oliver Lake's compositions are executed precisely by the musicians, without compromising any individual swagger. Side B stretches deeper into free territory: 3 songs feature Lake as one-third of a trio alongside 2 violins, each song telling a unique, short story, a solo Lake performance, and duet with drummer Charles "Bobo" Shaw end off an album that invites the listener to run it back again.

Maestro by Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Moacir Santos is a pleasant surprise in Blue Notes catalog. But don't expect a your average bossanova/samba affair. Santos takes us deeper with lesser-known Brazilian rhythms, yet still maintains an inviting sound.