Slammin all-body band Releases Debut CD

contents

jazz

Crosspulse Records and Videos announces the release of Slammin all-body band, the self-titled debut CD of a powerhouse sextet based in Oakland (CA) that performs a joyous mix of a cappella singing, beatboxing and body music. The CD features band members Zo Ellis, Kenny Washington, Destani Wolf, Bryan Dyer, Steve Hogan and Keith Terry and special guest Vicki Randle on one track. Deeply rooted in jazz, funk, R&B and World Music grooves, Slammin all-body band uses the human voice and body to push a cappella music outside the box and over the ledge. This “all-body band” creates soulful sounds infused with infectious harmonies and lightening-fast improvisations, percussively punctuated by beatboxing and body music -- the kinetic component that sets Slammin apart and on the cutting edge of a cappella performance.

Their CD includes highly original interpretations of tunes by Toots & The Maytals (”Pressure Drop”), Sly Stone (”Thankyoufalletinmebemiceelf), Stevie Wonder (”Overjoyed”), Miles Davis (”All Blues”) and “Outkast” (”The Way You Move”) as well as an on-the-spot, over-the-top blues improv by Zo Ellis (”Can't Get It Right”).

Since its release on November 1, Slammin has received airplay on NPR and college radio stations throughout the US and Canada and is being heard regularly on WGBH and WFNX in Boston, WRTI in Philadelphia, WPFW in Washington, DC, KNTU in Dallas/ Fort Worth, KCSM in San Francisco, CJLO in Montreal and other major markets in North America. The CD was a top-5 jazz add at college radio for the first three weeks of November (the #1 jazz add the week of November 14) and debuted at #39 on the Top-40 jazz chart of the College Music Journal the week of November 21.

Part formal studio performances and part spontaneous improvisations recorded live in concert -- their music is rowdy, funky, humorous, vibrant and fresh; their material is old school, contemporary and of the moment.

write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page