holley4734
Kassa Overall is a musical genius. The combination of jazz and rap seems like two worlds are colliding. Overall’s fusion of the two genres is the way jazz-rap is intended to be. His latest album, Animals, is seriously a work of art.
I would insert a photo of a chef’s kiss but all of the chefs look like they are smoking a joint. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it just looks weird without the joint.
The album reminds me of Digable Planets, which makes sense since Overall and Digable Planets founding member Shabazz Palaces aka Ishmael Butler, collaborated on some of the music. Kassa Overall will also be touring with Digable Planets this summer.
Overall comments,“One of my favorite records, and one of the first CDs I ever had, was Reachin’ by Digable Planets. This album was extremely influential as it planted the seed in my mind of what I could one day achieve by utilizing rap production and improvisation/live instruments. Butterfly, aka Ishmael Butler, was the mastermind behind the production in Digable. To work with him today is a sign of completion, and it’s an honor that he recognizes something in me.”
It was difficult to pick a favorite song on this album because all of the songs are brilliant. However, I enjoyed “Maybe We Can Stay” and “Going Up” the most.
I would like to listen to the album live. If I could I would listen to it anywhere that I can wear noise cancelling headphones and tune out everyone else except Kassa Overall.
You can find the album here: Animals or here for physical copies: Animals. Go get a copy ASAP! Treat Yourself!
Kassa Overall Links
| Ready To Ball Tour |
| August 09 – Ronnie Scott’s – London, UK |
| August 11 – We Out Here Festival – Dorset, UK |
| August 12 – A l’Arme Festival – Berlin, DE |
| August 13 – Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt, DE |
| August 17 – Cologne Jazzweek – Cologne, DE |
| August 25 – The New Parish – Oakland, CA |
| August 26 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR |
| August 27 – THING Festival – Port Townsend, WA |
| September 7 – Hopscotch Festival – Raleigh, NC |
| September 9 – 9:30 Club – Washington D.C.* |
| September 12 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ* |
| September 13 – Royale – Boston, MA* |
| September 14 – State Theatre – Portland, ME* |
| September 15 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT* |
| September 16 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA* |
| September 19 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON* |
| September 20 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY* |
| September 21 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH* |
| September 24 – Emo’s – Austin, TX* |
| September 27 – The Cooperage – Milwaukee, WI |
| September 28 – Icehouse – Minneapolis, MN |
| September 29 – James Theater – Iowa City, IA |
| October 19 – WWWX, Tokyo, JP |
| October 20 – Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka, JP |
| November 01 – Alte Feuerwache, Mannheim, DE |
| November 02 – E-werk – Erlangen, DE |
| November 03 – Uberjazz Festival, Hamburg, DE |
| November 04 – BIRD, Rotterdam, NL |
| November 07 – Jassmine, Warsaw, PL |
| November 09 – UT Connewitz – Leipzig, DE |
| November 10 – Alcazar, Rome, IT |
| November 11 – Locomotiv Club, Bologna, IT |
| November 12 – Magnolia, Milan, IT |
| November 14 – Moods, Zürich, CH |
| November 15 – Strange Brew, Bristol, UK |
| November 16 – Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, UK |
| November 18 – SuperSonic Jazz Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL |
| November 21 – AB, Brussels, BE |
| November 24 – Sala Paral-lel 62, Barcelona, ES |
Well, this is simply enchanting! Equal parts mellow, soulful and glorious.