American jazz supergroup R+R=Now (Reflect plus Respond equals Now) is so comfortable with the music they play that recently they have recorded their latest album in one take.
“Collagically Speaking” was released on June 15 and is currently the No.1 album on the Billboard Jazz chart.
Robert Glasper, a jazz musician and composer who leads R+R=Now, says that recording in one take wasn’t the purpose, it was a natural thing to happen because of an atmosphere in the studio and no hurrying.
“We have wine, drinks, friends coming in and out, hanging out. And we don’t stress,” Glasper says. “We get to the studio, sit down, jam a little bit, write something, this person might write a piece, that person writes a piece, we put it together and record.”
To promote the new record, the band went on a five-week tour starting it with an incredible show at Leopolis Jazz Fest in Lviv on June 28.
“I started hearing that my music was changing people’s lives in different ways – that’s why I do it,” Glasper told the Kyiv Post in an interview on June 28 right before going on stage.
The musician is a big name in the modern music. He has won three Grammy Awards and contributed to the music of many R&B and hip-hop artists including Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Erykah Badu.
Glasper’s new philosophy in music was influenced by the famous quote of the U.S. soul-jazz diva Nina Simone stating that it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.
The musician, however, creates rather optimistic music while raising important issues.
The band’s song “Her=Now” from the new album embodies the approach – it features the U.S. comedian and actress Amanda Seales, who reads a poem about women. Instead of speaking of gender inequality though, she speaks of women being powerful.
“This makes you feel strong in reacting to the bad things,” Glasper said. “It’s a different way of reacting to the problem.”
R+R=Now is what music industry calls a supergroup, as all of its members have successful careers. The team includes record producer, rapper and saxophonist Terrace Martin, producer, beatboxer and keyboardist Taylor McFerrin, producer and trumpeter Christian Scott, producer and bassist Derrick Hodge, drummer Justin Tyson – and Glasper on keyboards.
Glasper says he has known all of the musicians for a while and getting them together was his idea. What he likes about the new band is that the members master diverse musical instruments and tools.
“Everybody has a special thing,” Glasper said.
The first time the star team played together was in February 2017. The next time they met was a year later to record “Collagically Speaking” having no rehearsals beforehand.
Glasper says that it’s difficult to manage all of their busy schedules.
“That’s why we didn’t rehearse,” – he jokes.
Producer, musician and composer Robert Glasper talks to the Kyiv Post in his trailer before going on stage with his jazz band R+R=Now at Leopolis Jazz Fest on June 28. (Oleg Petrasiuk)
Healing souls
Glasper’s main guideline in music is being honest. He believes that this is how musicians can find out who they are as individuals in music and create their personal sound instead of playing jazz the way others told them to.
“People always ask me “How do you find your own sound?” Because people say “Glasper has a sound.” “Glasper’s sound.” And I say I try to be as honest all the time as possible,” he said.
The band leader says it means not playing the cool things and the lyrics everybody knows but playing what “you feel is real in the moment” and writing own music.
At the beginning of his career, Glasper used to try to impress other musicians. Today, he says, everything has changed.
“I think about people like what can I do for their lives,” he said.
Glasper says he receives thousands of messages from his listeners and knows exactly how his music influences them.
“I’ve had people tell me “I got married to your music,” “I’ve had babies to your music,” “My baby was delivered to your music,” “You stopped me from killing myself.” All kinds of important amazing things,” the musician says.
“That’s what music can do, it can heal souls. It’s healed my soul.”
