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| Drummer/Producer Stix Bones Releases His Second Single “Be Thankful,” Featuring vocalist Khadejia On September 15, the ubiquitous and innovative jazz/hip-hop drummer/producer Stix Bones - who worked with the likes of Yasin Bey (Mo Def), Common, Q-Tip and Doug E. Fresh - released "Leap, " the first single from hits forthcoming EP, Olimpik Soul, which featured percussionist Bob Beamon: the 77 year-old Olympic long jump champion, who in 1968 in Mexico City, leaped to the still-standing Olympic record of 29 ft. 2 ¼ inches. On November 24, Bones and his group The BONE Squad (an acronym for Brothers of Noble Excellence) drops their second single from the EP, "Be Thankful, " Bone's vivid version of soul singer William DeVaughan's million-selling 1974 Soul/R&B hit "Be Thankful For What "You've Got, " which includes the memorable lyrics " "Diamond in the back, sunroof top, diggin' the scene with a gangsta lean…" and was covered by Curtis Mayfield and many other stars, and featured in films and hip-hop samples. Bone's skillful and silken arrangement, backed by Beamon, keyboardist Densen Curwen, bassist Anthony Stevenson, guitarist Steven Brown, and background singer Rufus Moore, "Be Thankful, " retains the original mellow, but percussive, grooving tempo, albeit with a 21th century twist, christened with the airy and angelic voice of lead singer Khadejia, with her feminine grace updating DeVaughan's original Quiet Storm vocals. "Being that 'Be Thankful' is a 70's song, and this is 2023, I'm trying to relive a moment…" Bones says. "A moment with family, a moment of childhood and a moment of sports, being that Bob Beamon is on the song [in reference to] the Olympics and what that means to you." "Be Thankful" features Beamon, whose first love was music when he grew up in South Jamaica Queens, and was recently coaxed back into it by Beamon's cousin, bassist Al Brisbane. The EP features the aforementioned musicians on "Be Thankful, " and also includes trumpeter Sean Taylor, saxophonist Melvin Smith and poet/vocalist Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, who grew up with Beamon and worked with Bones early in his career. Olimpik Soul is Bones' third in a series of EP's that deal with jazz, soul and hip-hop beats including Breaks From the Soul, Vol.1 and 2 and Brooklyn Nights. Bones also released 3 albums, Bones Beats, Vol.1, Groove Like This and the Waiting For Mr. Wright Soundtrack. Born Franklin Brown in Brooklyn, Bones was inspired to play the drums watching live musicians in church and local DJ's spinning records. He went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance at SUNY-Purchase College. He performed with the aforementioned artists previously listed, and worked with Rahzel The Godfather of Noise (The Roots), author/poet Jessica Care Moore, was the music director of The Lyricist Lounge, collaborated with hip-hop artists and was the drummer for the group Soulfege led by Take Back The Mic founder Derrick N. Ashong. The BONE Squad was the house band at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, where they opened for The O'Jays, Babyface, Charlie Wilson, Cedric The Entertainer, Chaka Khan and many other artists. Stix Bone's sees "Be Thankful, " his riveting remake of William DeVaughan's "Be Thankful For What You've Got, " as part of that creative continuum where jazz has always embraced and elevated popular music. "The dynamic is to bring good music to the jazz community as a whole, " Bones states. "We want to continue to give the jazz community quality music, as the forefathers have done in the past." write your comments about the article :: © 2023 Jazz News :: home page |