Damu The Fudgemunk & Raw Poetic Recruit Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Archie Shepp for "Learning to Breathe" (Redefinition Records)
Long-time collaborators Damu The Fudgemunk & Raw Poetic (AKA Earl Davis & Jason Moore) have teamed up once more for a new collaborative album for Damu's NJ/DC/CA-based label, Redefinition Records. For said album, Ocean Bridges, Davis & Moore have recruited prolific Jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp, along with a seven-piece band, for a unique hybrid Hip-Hop/live Jazz experience. Damu The Fudgemunk's band assembled for Ocean Bridges consists of Archie Shepp on tenor/soprano sax & Wurlitzer electric piano, Raw Poetic supplying vocals/raps/lyrics, guitarist Pat Fritz, Aaron Gause on Wurlitzer electric piano & synthesizer, Luke Stewart providing acoustic/electric bass, Jamal Moore on tenor sax, clarinet, bongos & percussion, and drummer/percussionist Bashi Rose. "We were graced with the once-in-a-lifetime experience to record with the mighty Archie Shepp! Never could I imagine!! Never did I know that I'd be prepared to take on an opportunity as such, but I'm blessed in several ways," Music Before Persona (@damuthefudgemunk) shared within a recent Instagram post. Yesterday, Redefinition Records unveiled lead-off single, "Learning to Breathe," which introduces the album's swinging Hip-Hop/Improvised Jazz sound.
Raw Poetic's conscious lyrics are on-point, as always, atop Damu The Fudgemunk's band and their Improv/Free Jazz stylings accentuated by a wailing tenor sax solo from Archie Shepp himself. Accompanying "Learning to Breathe"'s single release, Damu has shared not one, but two music videos: an official music video produced, shot, directed, animated, and edited by Stephen Knox and an Extended Mix with in-studio/behind-the-scenes footage from the making-of Ocean Bridges. Additionally, there's, also, a 4-minute mini-documentary/short film dubbed "Learning to Breathe" Single In-studio Promo, which reveals Raw Poetic is, actually, Archie Shepp's nephew! It appears as through Damu The Fudgemunk has been in a collaborative mood over the last few years, having collaborated with Blu, DOOM & Insight, Roc Marciano, and Flex Mathews, as well as Raw Poetic on a number of occasions. Damu & Raw Poetic's most recent collaborative effort, MOMENT OF CHANGE, is a concise Name-Your-Price 8-track EP. Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu The Fudgemunk's Ocean Bridges will become available Friday, May 22, 2020 on Redefinition Records. "Learning to Breathe" is now available for purchase, streaming, or download on your preferred digital streaming platform.