![]() “Weight” and “Flex” both overlay ominous hood gothic beats with vocal performances that are a touch derivative. The only real problems arrive when Gates gets more conventional trap sounds to work with. Gates is also at home on the moodier stuff: the twinkling keys and trance vibes of “Hold Ya Head” and “Twilight”, and the ethereal, pulsating bass of “Neon Lights” and the spectral keys of “Arms of a Stranger” all provide the perfect space for him to examine his shortcomings and insecurities. The Luca Brasi Story soars on upbeat productions like Swiff D’s “Paper Chasers” and Nard & B’s “Hero”, which apply Kevin Gates’ sing-song cadence to 808s and frenetic synth runs. He’s got his method down pat, so The Luca Brasi Story really lives or dies on the kinds of songs he chooses to apply it to. That might sound like a strange brew, but Luca Brasi’s portraits of lonesome lotharios and traphouse paper chasers all teeter over the same the brink of collapse, and the intensity and break in Gates’ voice make it the perfect vehicle for these stories of desperation. Street anthems like “Paper Chasers” and “Weight” hold court with tender tales of love under duress like “Arms of a Stranger” and “Twilight” (yes, that Twilight). Gates shares that devotion to matters of the heart and matters of the street, and The Luca Brasi Story oscillates wildly between the two poles. Gates openly plays off the complexity of his character in naming the mixtape after The Godfather’s Luca Brasi, a brutal but unerringly loyal contract killer whose first scene in the film adaptation shows him mulling over how best to present a gift to the don’s daughter at her wedding. Gates has been at it at least as long as either of them, and his new mixtape The Luca Brasi Story imbues trap’s claustrophobic bleakness with an emotional nakedness, capable lyricism, and melodic certitude many of its recent breakout stars have lacked. He’s more technically gifted at both than Future, whose acerbic croak is often cloaked in a mist of Auto-Tune, and he’s more weathered and streetwise than Drake, whose background in soap opera acting undercuts his talk of hardship of its relatability. His similarities to those artists starts and ends with the fact that he’s a capable rapper and singer. Gates’ mixtapes peruse an emotive, melodic style that often gets him incorrectly lumped into the same milieu as introspective lady-killers like Drake and Future. It’s a shame they couldn’t find a use for him. Gates got a taste of nationwide notoriety after inking a deal with Lil Wayne’s YMCMB imprint a year ago but spent most of his tenure there on ice with YMCMB’s well-populated roster of benchwarmers. Musical influences are many but Bill Evans will always be special.Louisiana rapper Kevin Gates is a star on par with Lil Boosie around his stomping grounds in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but he hasn’t had much luck in popping nationally. Fast forward to her late 40's when she recommenced her musical journey, exploring the jazz world, guided by local music educators including Ian Gray, Paul Froggatt and Dave Shooter. Over the years - Max Roach, Tony Williams, Jack Dejohnette and Al Foster - as well as Elvin Jones and Paul Motian.īorn and bred in Lancaster, Paula Williams studied classical piano until the age of 17. ![]() His playing is influenced by the drummers who played with Miles Davis ![]() ![]() He also played in the Lancaster-based jazz group, Swerve Trio. Now Ray Brown and Ron Carter have inspired and sustain his new focus on the double bass.ĭrummer Richard Rushton, hails from Australia and played in several pop, jazz and funk bands in Sydney before moving to Lancaster. Montgomery has always made the bass line his study. His influences are Pat Martino, Johnny Smith, Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell.įrom a misspent youth hammering out the riffs in rock, prog and indie bands, to playing for Later, he studied with Sid Jacobs in Los Angeles and Originally from California, guitarist Tim Hickman studied music performance at the University of Oregon with Don Latarski. He made his career teaching woodwind supported with performance engagements, both in the UK and Europe. Heavily influenced by Brecker, Rollins, Getz, guitarists Metheny & Stern, & pianist McCoy Tyner, Paul Froggatt took up the saxophone at the age of 14 and studied with Blackpool legend, Ray Wilkes, before moving on to Leeds College of Music. The Luca Brasi Group is a Lancaster-based band immersed in a spirited re-exploration of the straight-ahead swing, be-bop and Latin jazz classics from the mid-twentieth century and later. ![]()
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