The College Music Journal (CMJ) has long been the prevailing voice for up-and-coming and break out artists. A 5-day music marathon is the staple meat and potato platter for music enthusiasts throughout New York City, who get a potpourri of music acts, ranging from every feasible genre preference from every corner of the world. Out of the hundreds of performances throughout the week, here are some of our top picks.
Mark de Clive Lowe (MdCL)’s Church @ 92Y Tribeca: Presented by Giant Step and Revive Da Live
October 21st
Giant Step and Revive Da Live’s Autumn Suite series brings Mark de Clive Lowe’s famed Church to New York. The LA jazz cypher that convenes on the first Sunday of every month at Angel’s Piano Bar in Santa Monica, comes to Tribeca with some very special surprise guests. Every session starts with an acoustic jazz set with MdCL on keys. The second set turns up the nobs–literally–with beat machines, synths, and his rhodes. Come through to see who turns out. You never know what jazz luminaries, emcees, or other special guests will show up.
We Got The Jazz @ DROM W/ Miles Bonny, Chris Turner, YU, Suzi Analogue and More
October 18th
Doors @ 6pm
Jazz has always been the root and inspiration for future soul and progressive hip-hop. “We Got The Jazz” is a showcase featuring some daring up-and-coming artists. The mix bag includes performances by Miles Bonny (trumpeter, producer, singer and DJ), Chris Turner (jazz singer currently on drummer Jamire Williams’ new project Erimaj), Suzi Analogue (post-everything experimental artists), YU (introspective emcee of Diamond District, and producer in his own right). I’m hoping for unexpected collaborations between artists, and not just a conventional showcase. We’ll see what transpires, but you should definitely be there.
The Stepkids @ Pianos
October 21st
12 am
The Stepkids are a psych-soul outfit that just released their debut album on venerable label Stones Throw. They’re also known for having exciting live performances that include an explosive light show. Channeling the best of ‘Fresh’ era Sly Stone and the more psychedelic bits of Curtis Mayfield, each member sings as well as holds their own on their respective instrument, making a gig of theirs the least bit boring to watch. While they’ve been touring for a handful of months now, they’ll play a somewhat astonishing 7 gigs in 5 days while in town for CMJ, so if you have the chance to check them out, DO IT.
Props CMJ Showcase W/ DJ Rich Medina featuring performances by John Robinson, Vinia Mojica, Maya Azucena @ The Gallery at LPR
October 19th
10pm-4am
The Props Wednesday night series features soulful DJ Rich Medina, and this CMJ showcase features some artists who swim in the intersections of hip hop and jazz. Phenomenal mc John Robinson has been in the game for years with a catalogue of more than 10 albums. His deft lyricism, spiritual energy, and gentle rasp of the voice, has led him to work with some of the most avant-garde producers or our time like Flying Lotus and MF Doom. We covered his jazz tribute album with J.Rawls The 1960’s Jazz Revolution Again a few months back on the revivalist. JR aka Lil Sci is a seriously underrated rapper that you should all check out. The night also features, Lovely songstress Vinia Mojica who emerged in the hip-hop era, lacing infamous vocals on some of our most beloved hip hop tunes of artists such as De La Soul and Mos Def. Vinia Mojica isn’t limited to the realm of hip hop she crosses boundaries with her sound that contains elements of jazz, hip hop, reggae, and soul. She has also collaborated with Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour and American folk singer Pete Seeger. You can also catch genre crossing singer Maya Azucena. The Brooklyn based singer-song writer just released a new album entiteld Cry Love. She also performed at the Miguel Atwood Ferguson Ensemble performance at Harlem Stage. Looks like it’ll be a dope night!
Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest After Party @ Mister H at Mondrain Soho
October 20th
10pm
This is the exclusive after-party for the Michael Rapaport documentary on the legendary A Tribe Called Quest called Beats, Rhymes & Life. The event will no doubt be star studded, with lots of hip-hop schmoozing, and will feature Questlove on the wheels of steel. There will be complimentary beverages provided by Sailor Jerry and Kanon Vodka. This is invite only. We haven’t been invited yet…just saying.
Compiled by Tamara Davidson, Grant Bauley and Boyuan Gao
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