Curtis Brothers Quartet
9th Annual Jazz Album Vox Pop Winner
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Genre: Jazz
Truth Revolution Records
www.curtisbrothersmusic.com
HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
ALBUM NOMINATED: Blood•Spirit•Land•Water•Freedom
WHERE WAS ALBUM RECORDED? Kaleidoscope Studios in Union City, New Jersey
WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? www.TruthRevolutionRecords.com, www.CurtisBrothersMusic.com, www.Bandcamp.com, www.CDBaby.com, iTunes. Visit our Web site first, we offer the best deals!
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Latin Jazz. We could also be considered Jazz Latin Fusion.
IS THERE A THEME TO THE ALBUM? Blood, spirit, land, water and freedom.
Each of these represents key components to our physical and metaphysical experience and (relative) reality. Because we are human and of Life, these are the essentials which define our mind, body and soul since Existence. They make us who we are. Without any one of them, we cease to be as we are.
Blood contains our DNA. DNA is something that is still mostly a mystery to us, though it contains the instruction to our entire being and history. Some scientists would like us to believe it is less important than it is. Perhaps because of the secrets contained within us. The four bases found in DNA are adenine (abbreviated A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). With just the arrangement of these four letters, the blueprint and code of who we are, what we will do, how we will do it and much more are contained. This is our “computer program,” the method of life, nature ‘s laws and a testament to the intelligence from which we are made. Blood is nothing less than the “way” of God or nature.
The Spirit is our truest essence, beyond the physical perception as defined by our five sense reality. Sight, taste, sound, smell and touch are the tools these bodies allow us in order to experience this reality, but it is not what we are. We are spiritual beings in the midst of a physical experience. We experience this reality from our spirit and through our vessel/body. The body is our connection to existence in this five sense reality, also known as the third dimension. While our bodies are finite, our spirits our immortal. Made of life itself, we are eternal and of no past or future.
Land is a gift to us. We are an extension of land; land that is rightfully and naturally ours. It is not possible for us to treat the Earth better than we treat ourselves, as we are of each other. When we begin to treat ourselves with respect and love through higher understanding, so will we treat this planet.
Water is our conductor. The constant. It is everywhere. All around us, in the air we breathe, in the food we eat and in our bodies. Water is where we originate from. If Earth is our Mother, Then Water is our Father.
Freedom is the Sun. No one can give it to us or take it away. Do not confuse freedom with liberty. Liberty can be given and taken away. If you have a voice, then you can speak. If you have a hand, you can grab. If you have eyes, you can see. If you have a soul, you can love. Each and every one of us has the sun within.
WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE ON THIS ALBUM? None on this CD, but we will see what the future has in store for us and our fans!
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Yup, through sales from previous recordings. Anyone can support us through our CD sales and I encourage all Jazz fans to support their music in this way if they want their music to survive.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? Mostly a Jazz and Latin Jazz audience. People who enjoy the music of Tito Puente and John Coltrane! Maybe superimposed! We mix our music as much as we can while understanding and preserving the essence of Jazz itself. Our audience is those who seem to support and love that concept.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They are extremely supportive of what we are doing. They understand that Jazz by itself is a revolutionary art form. We couldn’t be happier with the support that they give to us through the Internet and at our live shows.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Anywhere in Hartford, because we have such a large fan base there. New York City of course! Notably our home in the city, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Spike Hill in Brooklyn is another great spot with a crowd that wants to listen to great music. Dizzy’s Club Coca -Cola has been very receptive to what we have to offer musically, as well.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Curtis Brothers Quartet’s new CD was nominated for Best Latin Jazz CD of 2009 on Chipboaz.com and Nominated for Best Jazz album for the Independent 2009 Music Awards.
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Two new recordings are in the works for future release featuring the Curtis Brothers and notable guest appearances. Music with orchestra, big band and eastern percussion is in the works!
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… A business run by mafia corporations to ensure that the flow of musical dollars goes in their direction only. Supported by ignorance, fear and hundreds of lawyers, this industry has been sinking in its own failure. It is also controlling public opinion through radio and television with a formula that bequeaths “bad” music.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Success is being free. Free to create and express truth in how one sees the world and its beauty to its challenges and injustices by false security to the monopoly of main stream media.
WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Hmmmm…I can’t list everyone’s, but I can tell you my iPod has everything from Snoop Dogg to Miles Davis, Arsenio Rodriguez to Christian Scott and Chopin to Bjork. But, I listen to more talk radio podcasts than music!
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: There are too many to list. All of those who keep the music live. Those musicians that can be on any major label and choose to stay independent for a cause. We have to stay together or this beast will swallow us all! All of the Jazz clubs and venues that are open because it takes love to play this music and LOVE to open a Jazz club! The Jazz magazines and newspapers that support this music.