J. Davis Trio - Perfect Blend of Hip Hop and Jazz Tonight
This weekend, do not miss the J. Davis Trio at Double Door - 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Chicago natives, the J. Davis Trio combines jazz with hip hop in a perfect blend of sound and instrumentation. Grab dinner in Wicker Park or Bucktown. Then head on over to Double Door.
The J. Davis Trio
elev8tor, Mojoflo
Sat, July 14, 2012 - 9:00pm
Tickets: $10.00
Following
their musical heart, The J. Davis Trio continues to thrive. They thrive
not only because of their connection to real hip hop and jazz music,
but also because of their ability to grow and change. Started as trio,
they now have as many as 8-10 people on stage, utilizing many types of
instrumentation and styles. Their independence has allowed them to
explore and incorporate from unexpected sources, resulting in a sound
uniquely their own. Began as an actual trio with Julio Davis/vocals,
Dave Smith/bass & Tone Aimone/drums, they realized that in order to
play live, they needed another element. Paula Pergl came and provided
flute for awhile. When she left, she was soon replaced by long time
member, mulit-instrumentalist, Dave Winer. The J.Davis Trio arrived on
the Chicago scene with their debut eponymous album, The J.Davis Trio, in
1999 where they created national buzz with a North American tour that
included famous Chicago venues like The Metro, The House of Blues, the
historic Green Mill Jazz club, and many colleges in the midwest. Tours
to the east coast, the CMJ Music Fest in New York, down to the SXSW
Music Fest in Austin, TX., to L.A. soon followed
Their next album "The New No. 2" released in 2002 reflected a leap in their development and saw them working with many great Chicago artists. Rappers like Cap D from All Natural and Juice made an appearance, as well as musicians like Jeff Parker from Tortoise and Paul Mertens of The Brian Wilson Group. This effort was well received by critics:
"These four local musicians bill their inventive sound as "rap music for the rest of us". Think of it as Chicago's answer to the fluid, jazzy musically challenging hip-hop of the Roots, and revel in the smart, sexy grooves of their solid debut* album."
-Jim Derogatis Chicago Sun Times.
""This local hip-hop outfit--a quartet, not a trio--makes it's backing tracks the hard way, getting their grooves mostly from real bass and drums. Ron of Japan's trumpet skitters around them, but competes only slightly with rapper Stuart's lucid poetry, which would give these guys an edge even if they used samples."
Monica Kendrick Chicago Reader.
The band released their next album, "These Things Happen" in 2007.
This project saw them reunite with Julio Davis' original rap crew, Chicago legends Stony Island, as well as vocal and musical cameos by Poi Dog Pondering front man Frank Orrall.
In 2011, they returned with their most ambitious recording to date, "Vintage".
The J.Davis Trio has shared the stage with acts such as:
The Roots, M'shelle N'degleocello, Ozomatli, Reuben Wilson, De La Soul, Maceo Parker, Norah Jones, Groove Collective, Talib Kwali, Shinehead, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson, The Pharcyde, Black Eyed Peas, Tortoise, Living Colour, Poi Dog Pondering, and Modeski, Martin and Wood.
Their next album "The New No. 2" released in 2002 reflected a leap in their development and saw them working with many great Chicago artists. Rappers like Cap D from All Natural and Juice made an appearance, as well as musicians like Jeff Parker from Tortoise and Paul Mertens of The Brian Wilson Group. This effort was well received by critics:
"These four local musicians bill their inventive sound as "rap music for the rest of us". Think of it as Chicago's answer to the fluid, jazzy musically challenging hip-hop of the Roots, and revel in the smart, sexy grooves of their solid debut* album."
-Jim Derogatis Chicago Sun Times.
""This local hip-hop outfit--a quartet, not a trio--makes it's backing tracks the hard way, getting their grooves mostly from real bass and drums. Ron of Japan's trumpet skitters around them, but competes only slightly with rapper Stuart's lucid poetry, which would give these guys an edge even if they used samples."
Monica Kendrick Chicago Reader.
The band released their next album, "These Things Happen" in 2007.
This project saw them reunite with Julio Davis' original rap crew, Chicago legends Stony Island, as well as vocal and musical cameos by Poi Dog Pondering front man Frank Orrall.
In 2011, they returned with their most ambitious recording to date, "Vintage".
The J.Davis Trio has shared the stage with acts such as:
The Roots, M'shelle N'degleocello, Ozomatli, Reuben Wilson, De La Soul, Maceo Parker, Norah Jones, Groove Collective, Talib Kwali, Shinehead, The Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson, The Pharcyde, Black Eyed Peas, Tortoise, Living Colour, Poi Dog Pondering, and Modeski, Martin and Wood.
elev8tor
Elev8tor
is combination of electronic music programming, live drums inspired by
the funky drum breaks of the 60's and 70's, and the dreaminess of
downtempo with a dance club delivery. Started initially as a live
performance vehicle for keyboardist Kevin Ford's collection of original
downtempo tracks, Elev8tor has grown in its members, styles, and
influences. After a history of numerous (separate and collective) studio
collaborations between Sam Sharp (drummer), Olin Langley (bass), Bryan
Ford (guitar), and Kevin Ford, singer Darcy Markham joined the formula
and the band began pursuing an energized club sound. Collective roots in
the underground loft party culture in Chicago and a series of club
performances gave the group its current 'peak hour' ambitions. The
eccentricities of downtempo electronica form an organic, dark underbed
to the old school funky, dirty dance club vibes topped with Darcy's soul
sensibility and classic delivery.
Mojoflo
“Marked
by blazing horns, funky bass lines and a front-woman with sizzling
pipes… Mojoflo rides a wave of old-school swagger mixed with
contemporary cool”
Kevin Joy – The Dispatch
“Mojoflo mixes funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and reggae in an intoxicating brew that sounds a bit like a more contemporary version of the great funk band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.”
Rod Lockwood – The Toledo Blade
“Mojoflo is, in a word, sexy… The band has found a good balance between variety and continuity. With everything they played, they sounded like themselves, but it was always hip, never monotonous.”
Jamie DePould – Capital Chimes
“Mojoflo: It’s as fun to listen to as it is to say. Playing both horn-driven instrumentals and vivacious ditties with accompanying lyrics, Mojoflo successfully mixes elements of jazz, funk, hip hop and rock into an eclectic groove they can only call their own”
Emily Rippe – Toledo City Paper
“Mojoflo has never been about grand concepts or narrow focus – their free-flowing hopscotch from jazz to blues to funk to hip-hop to rock is more about satiating the diverse musical palate of an eight-piece ensemble. Versatility is the name of their game.”
Chris DeVille – Alive!
Kevin Joy – The Dispatch
“Mojoflo mixes funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and reggae in an intoxicating brew that sounds a bit like a more contemporary version of the great funk band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.”
Rod Lockwood – The Toledo Blade
“Mojoflo is, in a word, sexy… The band has found a good balance between variety and continuity. With everything they played, they sounded like themselves, but it was always hip, never monotonous.”
Jamie DePould – Capital Chimes
“Mojoflo: It’s as fun to listen to as it is to say. Playing both horn-driven instrumentals and vivacious ditties with accompanying lyrics, Mojoflo successfully mixes elements of jazz, funk, hip hop and rock into an eclectic groove they can only call their own”
Emily Rippe – Toledo City Paper
“Mojoflo has never been about grand concepts or narrow focus – their free-flowing hopscotch from jazz to blues to funk to hip-hop to rock is more about satiating the diverse musical palate of an eight-piece ensemble. Versatility is the name of their game.”
Chris DeVille – Alive!
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