One of music’s most in-demand bassists Rich Brown is back with a new studio album, NYAEBA, slated for release on September 26 on British label Whirlwind Recordings.
This latest release from the New Origins host tells the story of an imagined griot named NYAEBA who journeys around the world and returns to relate his tales in song. A griot in West African tradition is a historian, storyteller and orator who passes down knowledge, stories and history orally through storytelling, music or both. What makes the album even more thrilling is that each song from the album exclusively features the electric bass.
NYAEBA was executive produced by bassist and producer Michael Janisch and co-produced by Brown and fellow guitarist and composer Elmer Ferrer. “I’m quite sure you haven’t heard anything like it before,” Brown teased in an Instagram post back in June announcing the album.
Brown previewed samples from the album during this year’s edition of the Toronto Jazz Festival where he debuted his new project, eart|-|eart (pronounced “Earth Heart”) at The Rex Hotel, described as “a bold, genre-defying project that brings together global musical traditions with fearless improvisation and rhythmic innovation.”
NYAEBA comes out September 26 via Whirlwind Recordings. Take a listen to the singles “Ukudlala,” “The Heart of A Lonely Woman,” and “Sowetoeira.” Tune into New Origins with Rich Brown Tuesday nights at 10PM EST only on jazz.fm91.
