Here’s a dose of sunshine to get you moving on a Tuesday morning courtesy of Butcher Brown.
Acclaimed jazz and hip-hop fusionists Butcher Brown announce its latest single “This Side Of Sunshine,” an imaginative reinvention of Roy Ayers’ masterful but lesser-known cut. The single is the band’s first offering from its forthcoming album Solar Music, which is set to release digitally, on CD and double-sided LP October 6 via Concord Jazz. In support of the new music, Butcher Brown will embark on an extensive global tour with dates across the U.S. and Europe this fall.
In keeping with the slow pace of the new song, Butcher Brown’s rendition highlights the role that funk and soul play in the band’s musical foundation. With half of the song dominated by the wistful sounds of the drums, guitar and bass, the band demonstrates a thorough understanding of soul without tampering with the original version’s ingenuity. The single is also accompanied by an animated visual by Chris Acosta. Watch it HERE.
Speaking on the decision to rework “This Side Of Sunshine,” Butcher Brown drummer Corey Fonville says, “It’s important to give masters their flowers. Roy Ayers created a new wave that impacted so many of the younger artists, and with his originality he made timeless classics. This song is everything we love about his music and casually is a sleeper you don’t hear people discuss.”
Solar Music follows the group’s critically acclaimed 2022 album Butcher Brown Presents Triple Trey, which NPR said “sizzles from the first note” and Pitchfork described as “finding a natural home within the comfortable confines of hip-hop and big-band jazz.” In kind, the new record demonstrates the essence of Butcher Brown down to its core – incorporating a rich lineage of musical influences from its band members’ upbringing in Richmond, Virginia to fuse soul, funk, rock, and hip-hop into a universal sound.
In support of the new music, Butcher Brown’s 2023 global tour will bring the group’s explosive live show to cities across the U.S. and Europe. The tour – which heads to 13 states and 7 countries – kicks off Aug. 4 at Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island. Other standout stateside performances include Telluride Jazz Festival August 11-12, an appearance at NPR’s World Cafe Live Oct. 21 and a hometown show Nov. 24 at the Broadberry in Richmond, Virginia.
To learn more about Butcher Brown, read the full bio below or watch their 2021 NPR Tiny Desk performance. Listen to “This Side Of Sunshine” and pre-order Solar Music above, and stay tuned for more new music from Butcher Brown coming soon.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
8/4 – Newport, RI @ Newport Jazz Festival
8/5-6 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
8/11-12 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Jazz Festival
8/24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
8/25 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Pour House
8/26 – Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station
9/2 – Stuart, VA @ Front Porch Fest
9/22 – Harrisonburg, VA @ James Madison University
10/12 – Reno, NV @ University of Nevada
10/17 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
10/18 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
10/20 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
10/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live (upstairs)
10/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
10/24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Dakota
10/25 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
10/26 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
10/27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Jazz Kitchen
11/4 – Eindhoven, NL @ So What’s Next?
11/6 – London, UK @ The Forge
11/7 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma
11/8 – Berlin, DE @ J.A.W. (Zenner)
11/9 – Mannheim, DE @ Alte Feuerwache
11/10 – Técou, FR @ Coco Jazz
11/11 – Groningen, NL @ Rockit
11/12 – Rotterdam, NL @ Rooterdam / Bird
11/13 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bimhuis
11/14 – Charloeroi, BE @ Palais des Beaux Arts
11/16 – Geneva, CH @ TBA
11/24 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry
11/25 – Washington, DC @ Atlantis
12/5 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
12/6 – Portland, OR @ The Get Down
12/7 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
12/8 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa
12/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
12/10 – San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room
