Coinciding with this year's celebratory jazz-focused Black Music Month, Apple Music and award-winning artist/producer Robert Glasper have teamed up for the exclusive release of his latest album Let fall. (The Grammy- and Emmy-winning artist's latest work is available on Apple Music now.)
In an announcement about the new partnership, Apple Music's global editor-in-chief of hip-hop and R&B Ebro Darden said: “At Apple Music, we understand that jazz is not only fundamental to Black music, but to all popular music. So making sure we support and do more with jazz had to be a priority.”
As its title implies, Let fall is meant to help people mentally recalibrate in a challenging world. Among the album's few vocal highlights is the track “Breathing Underwater,” which features a guest turn from artist/bassist Meshell Ndegeocello. Moving forward, the exclusive collaboration between Apple Music and Glasper will include additional albums, a radio show and a live performance by the musician.
“My whole career, everyone said my music is meditative,” Glasper said Let fall in Apple Music's announcement. “People say they study my music, pray to my music, do yoga to my music. they just belt out. People have wanted me to do this for a long time. I wouldn't call it a “meditation project” or anything, but it's something you can wear and it helps you find your center. It's just something that calms the world and lets you see what's inside you.”
Among the musicians who worked on the album's instrumental tracks are drummer Kendrick Scott, bassist Burniss Travis and guitarist Chris Sholar, of whom Glasper noted, “The musicians are very, very important because they have to have the same flow and the same center. [For example], the drummer is a water sign. All that plays is water. It feels like water. And that's what I wanted for it. I wanted it to be wet.”
In honor of Juneteenth (June 19), Apple Music's jazz focus will be complemented by Freedom Songs 2024. Playlist of original songs and covers performed by next generation jazz musicians including Lakecia Benjamin, Theo Croker, Savannah Harris, J. Hoard, Alexis Lombre, Endea Owens, Joel Ross, Cisco Swank, Kamasi Washington and Immanuel Wilkins. Apple also offers curated collections of music that highlight the role jazz has played – and continues to play – in other genres such as hip-hop, rock, R&B/soul, dance and electronic music through albums, playlists and radio episodes hailing the heroes of jazz then and now.
Glasper's last official release was in 2022 Black Radio III. The set featured a variety of artists from R&B, hip-hop and jazz, including the aforementioned Ndegeocello, Esperanza Spalding, Killer Mike, Q-Tip, HER and Gregory Porter. The album won the Grammy for Best R&B album last year.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/robert-glasper-let-go-apple-music-1235703334/
