To fall in love with the things you do is to listen to a recording of ManyColors performing at Dazzle!
Paying homage to one of the greatest beat makers known to the game, local Denver lo-fi jazzwave group, ManyColors, returned to the Dazzle jazz club stage with their tribute to the artist dubbed by many simply as “The Greatest”. Fans who made it out to the tribute around slightly over a year ago were treated to a new set composed of fresh interpretations of J Dilla classics (“Fuck The Police”, “Let’s Take It Back”) as well as takes on his various Slum Village tracks, (“Tainted” and “Fall In Love”) the iconic rap group he helped found, and a track he produced for rapper Common (“The Light”).
The band had also evolved slightly since the last performance at Dazzle, now incorporating samples into their performance, many of which include interviews with the people who knew Dilla, as well as the man himself. In addition, the band was now performing with new drummer, and Brant Williams’ Workshy bandmate, Braxton Kahn. Braxton held down the beats with a masterful confidence that provided the backbone for the entire performance. The whole band performed the songs with a tactful execution that not only paid proper tribute to the artist, but extrapolated their own character that breathed new life into the Dilla classics.
Frontman Brant Williams has done a superb job composing, re-harmonizing, and ultimately turning each song a bit on its head to deliver a compelling take on each tune that feels both familiar and enticing, making curious listeners ponder where the band will turn next. Eric Luba provided a perfect tonal compliment to Brant’s lead work, switching from classic and straightforward piano tones to more abstract synth tones that helped paint the sonic landscape for each melody. All of this was tied together with the subtle brilliance of Kirwan Brown‘s bass-work, keeping in a rhythmic step-dance with Braxton and helping provide the foundation for each number, while adding the proper color in the form of a quick lick or nuanced solo when appropriate. When it came to execution, the band never faltered.
ManyColors is a musical technicolor dream. A trippy look through the sometimes jazzy, sometimes hip-hoppy lens of J Dilla’s music. A tribute that has found a new evolution of the source material and adapted it to something fresh. A tribute as compelling as the spectrum of colors that it represents and has inspired its own sound (see set closer “Bangs”). A proper tribute in every sense of the word.
Many Colors | 2020-02-28 | Dazzle, Denver, CO
-= One Set =-
01. Fuck The Police >
02. Let’s Take It Back
03. Stop >
04. The Mystery
05. (Banter)
06. Raise It Up
07. Climax
08. The Light
09. (Band Introductions)
10. Look Of Love >
11. E=MC^2
12. Tainted >
13. Kamaal
14. Fall In Love
15. Lightworks
Show Notes: This show was billed as “The King Of Beats: A Tribute To J Dilla By ManyColors”. This was the second year in a row Dazzle hosted this event.
Taper Notes: Mics were DFC on-stage raised around 2′ DIN. Board patch and mix thanks to FOH Sound Engineer Kevin Lee.
Thank you to ManyColors and Dazzle for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your servers/bartenders! #spacetapes
LINK: https://archive.org/details/MC2020-02-28.CA14.omnis.onstage.SBD.Matrix.flac16
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