ADRIAN YOUNGE - Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: São Paulo - CD [DEC 13]

CD - Tri-fold Digipack. A compilation of new songs showcasing the musical brilliance of Adrian Younge with artists from around the world. Essentially, the album features one unreleased song from an array of forthcoming albums Younge has produced for Linear Labs.  

Linear Labs: São Paulo sparks a new golden era of musical genius defined by the maestro Adrian Younge, encapsulating what he’s learned in building the first era of Linear Labs and its successor label Jazz Is Dead. Linear Labs: São Paulo marks the evolution of this journey.

Step into an extraordinary psychedelic and soulful experience with Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: Sao Paulo: a compilation of new songs showcasing the musical brilliance of Adrian Younge with artists from around the world. Essentially, the album features one unreleased song from an array of forthcoming albums Younge has produced for Linear Labs, including Something About April III, the tertiary installment of Younge's masterwork trilogy, and a new blaxploitation adventure from hip hop legend Snoop Dogg, entitled Don’t Cry For the Devil.

Also included on this preview is Brazilian actress/ singer Samantha Schmütz, Middle-Eastern singer Liraz, London-based jazz vocalist ALA.NI, afro-futuristic soul singer Bilal and a bonus song with Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier.

“For the last 30 years, I’ve studied rare and obscure records in an attempt to become the most unique producer in the world. A world where I create music with no expiration date…a vortex where the composers of yesterday and today sonically meet to discuss the way that hip hop has informed modern ears…essentially, my music is for the heads. This is São Paulo!” ⁃ Adrian Younge

It’s a new era for Adrian Younge’s recording outfit, Linear Labs. Since the start of 2020, Adrian Younge has been at the helm of production of 30 albums for his Jazz Is Dead label alongside his partner Ali Shaheed Muhammad. These albums include collaborations with iconic artists such as Roy Ayers, Ebo Taylor, Marcos Valle, Gary Bartz, Doug and Jean Carn, Dom Salvador, Carlos Dafé and countless others, helping reshape and refocus their careers. For the last 12 months, Younge has refocused his energies into his own music and the outcome has been what he describes as "the pinnacle of his career.” In these new offerings, he takes everything he has learned in his illustrious career and reaches new heights to be heard on Linear Labs: São Paulo.

The first single to be released is “Esperando por Você,” a dark and psychedelic glimpse into the world of Something About April III, the third installment to Younge’s fabled and most sampled works. Fans of Younge will immediately recognize his signature Something About April sound, but with a twist: the entire album is in Portuguese!

“Rules of the Game” offers the first glimpse into Snoop Dogg and Adrian Younge’s blaxploitation adventure, Don’t Cry for the Devil. The album features Snoop Dogg’s embodiment of the fictional ‘70s pimp, Silky Slim, rappin’ about life in the game. Younge’s production echoes the tone of Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle, as if it was produced by Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and Johnny Pate circa ‘76.

“Fire in the Disco” is a standout track from Younge’s upbeat and dance heavy Afrobeat project, Afrodisco Makossa. The six-track album is the follow-up to Younge’s collaborations with Afrobeat pioneers Tony Allen and Ebo Taylor, released on the Jazz Is Dead label. Featuring an ensemble of Ghanian and Black American vocalists, this song embodies the rich heritage of African music with a vibrant mix of Afrobeat-inspired disco tracks.

Hear Younge’s foray into the world of middle eastern psych and funk on “Farrar Konam,” a song created with Middle-Eastern singer, Liraz. Renowned for her outspoken activism through music, Liraz champions women's freedom worldwide. Sung in her family’s native Farsi language, her powerful message resonates universally. Her forthcoming album with Younge is entitled, Azadi, which means “Freedom.”

“Nossa Cor” is a classic love samba composed by Younge and Brazilian actress/singer Samantha Schumütz. This song is a preview into their majestic album, Samantha e Adrian. The partnership between Schmutz and Younge is heavily inspired by the revolutionary Brazilian music created during the MPB and tropicalia era of the ‘60s and ‘70s. While many know Schmütz for as an actress and comedian, few are aware of her singing prowess.

The song “Human Absence” comes from YOUNGE, the eponymously named instrumental album, a first of its kind. Created with a live 30-piece orchestra, the fuzz guitars, cinematic arrangements and funky percussion showcase Younge’s mastery as a conductor from a bygone era.

On Proud, Adrian Younge showcases the Parisian jazz singer ALA.NI. With her unique blend of vocal harmonies and unparalleled emotion, ALA.NI establishes herself as one of the most distinctive and enchanting Black voices emanating from Paris.

In 2015, Bilal and Adrian Younge released In Another Life, an album crafted by Younge to highlight the soul singer’s impressive vocal range and distinctive style, featuring guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T. and more. In Another Life: Redux is a re-release of the acclaimed album, remastered with three unreleased songs as it was always intended by Younge to be released.

Bio:

Adrian Younge is an Emmy Award winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Renowned for his analog sound, Younge has been sampled by artists like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Common, DJ Premier and counteless others. He’s also produced for icons including Roy Ayers, Cee Lo, Rakim, Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, Marcos Valle, Céu, Dom Salvador, Azymuth, Wu Tang Clan and many more. He’s also known for his work as a film and television composer (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Black Dynamite, etc.) Younge is the owner and brainchild of the record label Linear Labs; he also is the co-owner of the record label and events company Jazz Is Dead.

Tracklist: 

1) Esperando por Você
a. Album title: Something About April III
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Drums, Upright bass, Wurlitzer electric piano, harpsichord, Electric guitar, Carillon, Mellotron
ii. Jack Waterson: Electric Guitars
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged and conducted by Adrian Younge
d. Lyrics: Written by Adrian Younge; performed by Céu, Luiza Lian, Antonio Pinto and Manu Julian

2) Rules of the Game
a. Album title: Don’t Cry for the Devil
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Monophonic synthesizer
ii. Dave Henderson: Drums
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged by Adrian Younge; Conducted by Brooke DeRosa
d. Lyrics: Written and performed by Snoop Dogg
e. Background vocals: Loren Oden and Saudia Mills

3) Fire in the Disco
a. Album Title: Afrodisco Makossa
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Electric guitars, Organ, Monophonic synthesizer, Percussion
ii. David Urquidi – Baritone saxophone
iii. Danny Janklow – Baritone saxophone
iv. Scott Mayo – Alto saxophone
v. Katisse Buckingham – Flute
vi. Ashley Jarmack – Flute
vii. Khristian Foreman – Trombone
viii. Tatiana Tate - Trumpet
c. Lyrics: Written by Adrian Younge; performed by Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Beatrice Lawluvi, Mikaela Elson and Erinn Horton

4) فرار کنم - Farrar Konam
a. Album title: Azadi
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Electric guitars, Marimba
ii. Mekala Session: Drums
iii. Bryan Velasco: Electric Harpsichord
iv. Matin Eshaghi: Tonbak, Tar
v. Misaq Eshaghi: Daf, Kamancheh
vi. Tatiana Tate: Trumpet
vii. Danny Janklow: Tenor Saxophone
viii. David Urquidi: Baritone Saxophone
ix. Jacob Scesney: Baritone Saxophone
x. Mohammad Khodadadi: Ney
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged and conducted by Adrian Younge
d. Lyrics: Written and performed by Liraz

5) Nossa Cor
a. Album title: Samantha e Adrian
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Electric guitar, Acoustic guitar, Monophonic synthesizer, Percussion
ii. Leo Costa: Drums
iii. Bryan Velasco: Keys
iv. Gibi dos Santos: Percussion
v. Samson Olawe: Percussion
vi. Fabio Santana – Trombone
vii. Sean Billings - Trumpet
viii. Tatiana Tate – Trumpet
ix. Ashley Jarmack – Flute
x. Alex Budman – Alto Flute
xi. Danny Janklow – Alto saxophone
xii. Phillip Whack – Tenor saxophone
xiii. David Urquidi – Baritone saxophone
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged and conducted by Adrian Younge
d. Lyrics: Written and performed by Samantha Schmütz
e. Background vocals: Samantha Schmütz and Loren Oden

6) Human Absence
a. Album title: Younge
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Electric bass guitar, Electric guitars, Vibraphone, Percussion
ii. Mekala Session: Drums
iii. Bryan Velasco: Acoustic piano
iv. Jack Waterson: Electric guitar
v. Tatiana Tate: Trumpet
vi. Danny Janklow: Baritone saxophone
vii. David Urquidi: Baritone saxophone
viii. Scott Mayo: Alto saxophone
ix. Erm Navarro: Trombone
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged and conducted by Adrian Younge

7) Run
a. Album Title: Proud
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Drums, Electric bass guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, Percussion
c. Linear Labs Orchestra: Arranged and conducted by Adrian Younge
d. Lyrics: Written and performed by ALA.NI

8) Spiraling
a. Album title: In Another Life Redux
b. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Drums, Selene, Electric guitar, Electric bass guitar, Hammond B3 organ, Fender Rhodes piano, Alto and Baritone saxophones, Flute, Harmonica, Monophonic synthesizer
ii. Clinton Patterson: Trumpet
c. Lyrics: Written by Bilal & Loren Oden performed by Bilal

9) Purification
a. Musicians:
i. Adrian Younge: Drums, Acoustic piano, Electric bass guitar, Hammond B3 organ, Mellotron, Alto saxophone, Percussion
ii. Jack Waterson: Electric guitar
iii. Clinton Patterson: Trumpet
b. Lyrics: Written and performed by Lætitia Sadier