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Robert Urban Reviews & Interviews
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ButtaFlySoul,
Nhojj and ManchildBlack
Gay
singers with soul & social-conscience
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Modern musical
influences such as world, hip-hop, and digital electronica have radically
colored and changed classic "soul" pop singing, sometimes distancing
the genre from it's own venerable rhythm & blues roots. In this article we
spotlight three gay African-American star vocal sensations who offer new
popular song stylings while still retaining a bona fide R&B sound.
Multi-talented,
modern renaissance man ButtaFlySoul (a.k.a. Leslie Taylor) is not only a
rhythm & blues artist, but also a jazz singer, poet, rapper, actor and
director. I have heard
ButtaFlySoul's vocal improvisations live in concert, and can testify he is a
modern musical force to be reckoned with. Drawing from both masculine and
feminine vocal stylings and colorations, his uncanny unisex singing voice goes
everywhere. Butta's bluesy and free form-infused vocal stylings are
reminiscent of many of the most gifted singers from pop's golden age of Motown
and soul. As with virtuosos such as Patti LaBelle, his voice knows no
limitations or inhibitions. ButtaFlySoul's singing can take the lid off. In
performance, he exudes a magnanimous stage presence, a joyful indulgence in
his almost operatic bluesy vocal gymnastics, topping off each phrase with a
grand smile and welcoming gesture that both embraces and wins over a crowd.
A native of Chicago,
Illinois who now makes his home in New York City, ButtaflySoul
began singing at the age of six with local community choirs. Though his heart
began in gospel music, he easily made the transition into R&B and Jazz.
Not limited to music, Buttaflysoul's vocal and improvisational talents pour
over and blend into the worlds of poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, and theater.
With his particularly melodic gifts, he continues to be a sought after and
respected vocalist. Most recently, he can be heard on the new CD called Troubled
Man by hip-hop poet-rapper Baron.
Butta's spoken word
artistry has also won him the Nuyorican 2003 Glam Slam Championship as
well as the opportunity to open for Motown recording artist Donnie. He is
currently one of the contributing writers for the Signifying Harlem
Literary Journal and featured poet for the Nubian Heritage on-line magazine.
He prides himself on having the distinction of being one of the esteemed
members of the Peabody Award winning Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam family.
He has co-hosted The
Spit Fire Radio Show on WBAI 99.5 FM and is currently the host of FLOW - a
hip-hop and poetry showcase for the alternative artist. Recently, he hosted
the 2004 Poetry Slam at this year's DC Black Pride.
Butta is the newest member of Deep
Dickollective (DDC) a GLBT hip hop group based out Oakland, CA. Together
they tour colleges and hip hop venues a like sharing their brand of
"in-your face" hip hop lyrics. Butta has also been a feature
performer at Peace Out East in New York, and Peace Out West in
Oakland.
ButtaFlySouL is
committed to educating people on HIV/AIDS awareness especially in the
African American community. He took the opportunity to share his gift of
poetry and desire to change the community at large by facilitating the "bibliotherapy"
group "Loungin In GiovanniŐs Room" at GMHC where
participants utilize poetry as a tool to face daily issues or concerns around
sexuality. The group is open to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and
Straight people of all ages. Many have become poets or writers and have been
featured at venues that ButtaFlySouL has hosted.
Soulful
singer/songwriter Nhojj has been hailed as "the voice of social
conscience" by Logo Magazine in the UK, and described as "blessed
with musical genius" by MusicDish Industry E-Journal here is the US. His
unique blend of musical styles serves to showcase both his 4-octave vocal
range and amazing breath control.
I have the pleasure
of hearing Nhojj deliver his pure and beauteous sound live in concert. I can
testify that when this man sings, you can hear a pin drop in the house.
Astounding audiences everywhere with both his passion and his message, it is
no wonder this man's music is played on radio stations throughout the world.
Nhojj (pronounced
"Naj") grew up in Guyana, the son of an Adventist minister. He
started singing at the age of 5 in his local church. With childhood Caribbean
musical influences that included old time spirituals, calypso, carnival, soca,
soul, reggae, and, as he adds, "sand, sun and ocean", Nhojj grew up
performing on local radio programs and in churches. He even sang in his
country's stadium before the Presidents of Guyana and Trinidad and thousands
of spectators.
After coming to the
U.S. and graduating from New York University with honors and a BA in
economics, Nhojj taught himself to record and produce. His then released his
debut "acoustic soul" CD, the deeply personal, moody and poetic I've
Been Waiting for You.
In addition to
regularly singing at NYC clubs and lounges, Nhojj has performed at gay pride
festivals, college campuses, peace events, 9/11 tribute concerts and churches
throughout the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. He has shared stages with
Motown recording artist Donnie and Def Jam poet and activist Stacey Ann Chin.
As part of THAW (Theaters Against War), Nhojj was in the cast of the award
winning play The Making of the Black Man at the NYC Fringe Festival.
As an eloquent
advocate of world peace, freedom and "know thyself" philosophy,
Nhojj's lyrics reveal a deep commitment to nonviolence and social justice. His
second CD of songs was released in 2004. Called Someday Peace Love &
Freedom, this relaxed, groove-laden bed of reggae, soft jazz and soul lets
Nhojj spotlight his airy falsetto whispers and pure vocal tone. Through his
thoughtful, complex lyrics, he shares his view of the world and offers hopeful
social commentary. Contains songs "Someday", "Peace,
"& "The Beggar's Cup".
Nhojj's mellow vibes
has been likened to Sade's, and his compelling words have echoed his own
heroes - Bob Marley, John Lennon, and Martin Luther King.
On Someday Peace
Love & Freedom, uplifting songs like "Someday" and
"Peace" feature lots of rhythmic guitar strummings and solid bass
grooves. Check out "The Beggar's Cup", introduced after a slow
instrumental reggae pulse. As
explained on Nhojj's website, "This song tells the story of a beggar at a
street corner, but he isnŐt begging for money - he's begging for something
far more important, something that will lastÉ He is begging for love".
Nhojj additionally
has recorded a live performance DVD "An Intimate Evening with Nhojj"
with Emmy nominated director Bill Cote.
ManchildBlack's
rich and smoky mid-range baritone offers a pleasant contrast to the two
above-mentioned singers often stratospherically high tenor voices, and is
equally rewarding.
In an age where many
performers simply appear "karaoke style", (i.e. - singing alone
onstage accompanied only by a backing CD track), Manchild enjoys playing live
the old-fashioned way – accompanied by real musicians.
Advocating what he calls "raw soul music", Manchild wows
audiences while flanked by a genuine full band of talented musicians, often
including percussionists, guitarists, bassists and additional singers.
Often seen sporting
his trademark, "Good Will store" fedora, this dreadlock coiffed
singerŐs band is sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric, but always smoothly
funky and groove-laden. His sound
is kind of an updated, bluesy bohemian "beat" version of his own
favorite influences – Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, Jackie
Wilson and Sam Cooke.
Last fall in NYC, I
had the pleasure to host ManchildBlack and band as they performed at the
star-studded Ride On Concert benefiting Breaking the Cycle
HIV/AIDS bicycle ride charity. As visually interesting as they are musically
alluring, Manchild & Co. both entertained and educated the crowd in the
main hall of NYC's GLBT Community Center with soul-searching and uplifting
original songs on complex African-American related social issues that included
self-esteem, racism, and masculinity.
Originally the lead
singer for the popular NYC based "hip-hop soul" group Urban
Folklore, and now a solo-artist, Manchild arrived in the Big Apple after
having resided in Washington, DC for many years. Equally at home in the legit
theater as he is on the pop music stage, he recently appeared in the NYC
production of "May the
Circle be Unbroken" at the Billie Holiday Theater in Brooklyn. Manchild
also received critical praise for his role as Racine in
Carl Hancock Rux's "Ashphalt" which featured music by Toshi
Reagon and D.J. Spooky.
A finalist in the
2002 John Lennon Songwriting Award competition, Manchild is currently seeking
a new label for his well-crafted songs.
Fans can visit his website and hear this "raw soul" gay male
artistŐs unique take on both masculine and feminine vulnerability and
validation in tracks such as the acoustic, folky "Lil' Sista"; the
powerful, angry rant on the harmful effects of the media
"Noize"; and the bold attack on black male stereotypes
"Ballad of Nigga".
The material above may only be copied and or used with the direct permission
of the author, Robert Urban.
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