David Murray’s new album Blues for Memo is now available online to download and stream!
Featuring acclaimed actor/poet Saul Williams, Murray crafts a powerful, political expression of the blues, paying homage to a pioneer of Istanbul’s jazz scene, Mehmet “Memo” Uluğ. Inspired further by the legendary conductor/cornetist Lawrence D. “Butch” Morris and poet Amiri Baraka, Blues for Memo is a cutting-edge collaboration of jazz and poetry.
Listen/Download here!
Arturo O’Farrill won his fourth Grammy Award this evening at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in New York City. O’Farrill won Best Instrumental Composition for “Three Revolutions” from his latest album Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico by Arturo O’Farrill and Chucho Valdes, released in September 2017.
Check out the song here!
Jana Herzen, owner and president of Motema Music, was interviewed in Billboard Magazine in celebration of Motema’s 15th Anniversary!
Check it out here!
NYC Winter Jazzfest begins tonight! The following Motema artists will be playing this weekend’s festival:
FRIDAY:
Stefon Harris- The New School Tishman Auditorium @ 8:20 pm
Donny McCaslin- le poisson rouge @ 9 pm
SATURDAY:
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet- le poisson rouge @ 9 pm
Rene Marie- Subculture @ 10:20 pm
Click here for the full schedule!
Motema is excited to announce David Murray‘s new album ‘Blues for Memo’ featuring acclaimed actor/poet Saul Williams will be released February 16th (available digitally February 2nd). The album release celebration is coming up soon Jan 30-Feb 3 at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC. Reserve your spot here: https://www.birdlandjazz.com/attraction/david+murray/
The video for Deva Mahal’s pulse-pounding single “Snakes” was premiered by Popdust and featured in the New York Times Playlist! You can check out the premiere and watch the video here, or check out the NY Times Playlist here.
The video follows the story of a young girl (an allusion to Deva’s favorite childhood story ‘Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp’) overcoming adversity, offering a powerful message for young women, while also putting forward a positive message of hope.
Watch the full video on YouTube.