Twenty-twenty is gearing up to be an insanely exciting year music-wise. The latest staggering album announcement comes from none other than vocalist José James who is set to drop No Beginning No End 2 on March 6th. The album will mark his debut on Rainbow Blonde Records, a label he co-founded with Talia Billig, aka Taali, and Brian Bender. Stream the lead single “I Need Your … [Read more...]
Ben Williams’ ‘I AM A MAN’ Album Reviewed
On February 1, 1968, a malfunctioning garbage truck fatally crushed two black Memphis sanitation workers - Echol Cole and Robert Walker. Their passing was in many ways directly the fault of Henry Loeb, the city’s white supremacist mayor. Loeb previously served as the Memphis’ Public Works Commissioner, a role in which he undertook several steps to impose unduly harsh conditions … [Read more...]
Stream Ben Williams’ “If You Hear Me” From Upcoming Album ‘I AM A MAN’
Esteemed bassist Ben Williams is back with an album of his own after a four year hiatus. The 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition winner (since then rechristened the Herbie Hancock International Jazz Competition) will be releasing his newest opus, I AM A MAN, next February via the José James co-owned label Rainbow Blonde Records.Inspired by Memphis’ 1968 … [Read more...]
Jamire Williams – ‘///// EFFECTUAL’
Jamire Williams is an artist. He's best known for being a drummer. He has backed numerous groups. His style, which I have described on this site many times as a "constant rumbling", is signature and frequently in demand. As a musician, he is always one to listen for. Yet, over the last few years, it has become clear that Williams is more than this. Being a musician is great-- … [Read more...]
Jamire Williams – “Children of the Supernatural” (Stream)
Drummer Jamire Williams' defining characteristic on his instrument is that he always seems to be constantly rumbling. Whether he's playing with Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, the Robert Glasper Experiment, Dr. Lonnie Smith, his backwards namesake group ERIMAJ, or Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (who shows up on Williams' upcoming album, but I'll get to that), Williams' energy seems to … [Read more...]