Motema Music. Artists of power and distinction since 2003.

Joey featured as one of ‘Time’s’ Next Generation Leaders

November 4, 2016

Joey Alexander has been name a “Next Generation Leader” by Time Magazine!

“Yes, the 13-year-old is a celebrated jazz artist and one of the youngest Grammy nominees in history, for his debut album My Favorite Things. But he doesn’t like the labels that come with being preternaturally talented. “I really don’t think I’m a genius or a prodigy,” he says. “I want people to dig my music, and not care about who I am.”” – Nash Jenkins, Time Magazine

Joey talks about his second album with Reuters

Check out Joey’s discussion with Reuters, where he talks about his second album, Countdown.

“I always try to practice my feelings because in this music it’s not just technique, it’s just the feeling of how you play and the freedom that you can give.” – Joey Alexander, Reuters

Read the interview here!

New album from Donny McCaslin, leader of David Bowie’s Last Band, out now

October 17, 2016

The new album ‘Beyond Now’ from the leader of “David Bowie’s Last Band”, Donny McCaslin, is out today!

On the album, Donny pays tribute to Bowie by re-imagining two tracks by the legend (“A Small Plot of Land” and “Warszawa”), alongside powerful originals, which bring his genre bending, electronica-meets-jazz style to new heights. Donny is joined by Timothy Lefebvre, Mark Guiliana, Jason Lindner- the same band that featured on Bowie’s final release, ‘Blackstar’.

Find out more about the album here!

DONNY MCCASLIN INTERVIEWED BY THE GUARDIAN

October 5, 2016

Donny McCaslin was interviewed by The Guardian to discuss his experience working with David Bowie on Blackstar.

McCaslin’s latest album Beyond Now, which is influenced by McCaslin’s time working with Bowie, is his tribute to the late icon.

“The experience of creating music with Bowie proved so deep, and its aftermath so jarring, that McCaslin decided to turn his new album, Beyond Now, out 14 October, into a tribute… McCaslin knew his Bowie salute had to be special. “I wanted the depth of my experience with him, and the impact on my life, to be reflected,” he said. “I was digging deep on every take to get the gravitas I felt it should have.” -Jim Farber, The Guardian

Read the full article here!

DONNY MCCASLIN FEATURED IN BILLBOARD

Donny McCaslin, along with fellow Beyond Now musicians Tim Lefebvre, Jason Lindner, and Mark Guiliana, met with Billboard to discuss their new album.

They discuss their collaboration with David Bowie, and his profound influence on the upcoming album, due out October 14th.

“With Bowie as spirit guide, Beyond Now is about throwing away all rules books and looking for other textures and outside territories to enliven the quartet’s already eclectic aesthetic.” -A.D. Amorosi, Billboard

Check out the article here!

Download a free Motema Music 2016 sampler

September 20, 2016

The Motema Music 2016 sampler is here!

The seven song sampler features some of the best of Motema’s 2016 releases, including the Pedrito Martinez Group, Jaimeo Brown Transcendence, Rene Marie, Ben Wendel, Ted Nash Big Band, Murray, Allen & Carrington, and Will Calhoun.

Click here to download the sampler!