Nihil Novi Marcus Strickland's Twi-Life

• 1 Tic Toc 03:47
• 2 The Chant 02:45
• 3 Talking Loud 04:32
• 4 Alive 05:44
• 5 Sissoko's Voyage 04:42
• 6 Mantra 01:19
• 7 Cycle 04:16
• 8 Inevitable 04:57
• 9 Drive 03:45
• 10 Cherish Family 00:41
• 11 Celestelude 04:33
• 12 Mingus 01:31
• 13 Truth 04:36
• 14 Mirrors 06:08
• Total Runtime 53:16

Info for Nihil Novi

NY-based Saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader & producer Marcus Strickland has gone on to release seven critically-acclaimed albums, as well as appearing on dozens of records as a sideman alongside Roy Haynes, Jeff “Tain” Watts or Tom Harrell. The freshly signed Blue Note artist is already credited on two of the most-anticipated releases for 2016 on the NY label: with the Blue Note supergroup “Our Point of View” & with his own band Twi-Life “Nihil Novi”.

Strickland´s current main project “Twi-Life” is a terrific Blend of his multiple musical influences, whatever it’s jazz, hip hop, R&B or soul music. The Blue Note saxophonist is about to release his first album on Blue Note Records (in collaboration with Revive), supported by an impressive line up of talents. Produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, mixed by the legendary Bob Power (D´Angelo, A Tribe Called Quest, Chaka Kan)and starring forward-thinking artists such as Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Pino Palladino, Keyon Harrold or Jean Baylor. Strickland music can also be heard on the recent compilation “Supreme Sonacy”, starring the young & booming NY Jazz scene. Marcus Strickland is also a core member of the Blue Note supergroup “Our Point Of View” with some of the most sought artists of the next Generation (Robert Glasper, Kendrick Scott, Derrick Hodge, Ambrose Akinmusire, Lionel Loueke). A studio album will see the light next year, featuring jazz giants Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter.

People have to be careful when they call something new,” says Strickland. “I think about what’s around me instead of trying to create something new. Everything is inspired by something else. Ecclesiastes says: ‘There’s nothing new under the sun.’”

The saxophonist may wax philosophical when he gets talking about Nihil Novi (a Latin phrase that translates to “nothing new”) but make no mistake, this is music for your heart and your feet as well your mind. Along with producer Meshell Ndegeocello, he draws upon a world of music from J Dilla’s hip-hop beat making to Bartók’s Hungarian folk music. From Fela’s propulsive Afrobeat to Mingus’ freewheeling jazz truths. This is music of the people and for the people. The diversity of influences and progressive approach to production are reflective of Revive Music’s mission to elevate music by breaking with purist ideals and discussions of genre to create transcendent sonic experiences.

Since the turn of the century, the Miami-native has made indelible imprints on the modern jazz scene playing with such titans as Roy Haynes, Dave Douglas and Jeff “Tain” Waits and reinvigorating the genre with his own band Twi-Life. Beginning with his 2001 debut, At Last (Fresh Sounds/New Talent), he’s also been steadily building an impressive body of work. Last year Marcus appeared on Blue Note/Revive Music’s acclaimed statement of purpose, Supreme Sonacy Vol. 1, on which he and singer Christie Dashiell delivered a spellbinding makeover of Janet Jackson’s 1986 quiet-storm classic, “Let’s Wait Awhile.” The New York Times review singled out the track, writing that it “approaches the high bar for simmering R&B covers set by the Robert Glasper Experiment.”

Nihil Novi picks up some of the sonic cues from Supreme Sonacy, but with production help from Ndegeocello, Strickland paints an even more expansive musical canvas. The latest incarnation of Twi-Life is the centerpiece: trumpeter Keyon Harrold (known for his work with such R&B and hip-hop artists as D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z and Common), bassist Kyle Miles, drummer Charles Haynes, organist Mitch Henry, and keyboardist Masayuki Hirano. Nihil Novi also includes appearances from singer Jean Baylor, bassists Pino Palladino and Ndegeocello, keyboardist James Francies, drummer Chris Dave, guitarist Chris Bruce, and pianist and fellow Blue Note artist Robert Glasper.

Consisting entirely of original songs, Nihil Novi was born of Strickland’s passion for beat making, which has shaped both the way he composes and how he improvises. It also inspired him to recruit Ndegeocello as the album’s producer. “Because of all the layers and textures involved, I wanted someone who was very experienced at producing and creating this kind of music,” Marcus explains. “Meshell is genre-less; she doesn’t go by genres. She goes by who she is as a person. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m not interested in affixing myself to a particular genre; I want to express who I am musically as a person.”

Marcus Strickland, tenor saxophone
Chad Selph, keyboards, organ
Kyle Miles, bass
Charles Haynes, drums
Jean Baylor, vocals

Marcus Strickland
“It all started as a hobby”, Marcus Strickland says of his beat making. “It was what I did after playing sets with Roy Haynes or Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts” or on a break between practicing saxophone etudes. It started separately, and naturally became one with my voice as a composer and saxophonist.”

Marcus Strickland’s debut Blue Note/ Revive Records release Nihil Novi (Latin for Nothing New) is about our relationship with time: how many things in the world can seem new, but are actually cyclical occurrences or developments from where the past left us off. From 2 Live Crew to Twerking, and Rodney King to Eric Garner, be careful what you call new. The multi reedist/ beatmaker made this record with a strong and inspiring urgency that is inclusive of, yet not exclusively from his jazz roots.

"A musician does not grow from forcing themselves into a vacuum. Genres eventually cross pollinate, making our ability to be in the present more relevant than the original given terms. Creativity does not stay within lanes, it feeds off of its surroundings." However, Strickland has a deep rooted respect and admiration for his predecessors, and it shows in his music. "One great tool that we have to navigate the present is culture. Culture, being the culmination of our triumphs and failures, gives us an advantage when dealing with similar situations, and it reminds us of what is important. So for me Nihil Novi is just a reminder to me of what's mostly important to me, musically and emotionally. I just want it to feel good. When I made the beats that inspired this record I was entrenched in J Dilla, Mad Lib, Slum Village, D'Angelo. I learned from them how to add and subtract layers for an overall affect, how powerful even the most subtle melodic line is when it is absent."

“The many layers, pre-production, and the need for fresh ears to this music were the reasons why I wanted to work with a producer on this venture.” Says Strickland. “It’s impossible to learn how to produce without working close with producers, so I mustered up the courage to ask one of the most well regarded of my heroines to produce this record, Meshell Ndegeocello.” The genre-less, bass guru, songstress, producer generously accepted and immediately allotted the tracking, mixing and mastering to highly regarded sound wizard, Bob Power.

"I could not have planned it any better, the way that things sprouted out when I first started introducing this music to drummer Charles Haynes, who co-produced on most of the tracks. He helped me put together the band, I already knew I wanted to work with him, Jean Baylor, Keyon Harrold (who I already worked with on previous Twi-Life projects) and BIGYUKI. Charles introduced me to Kyle Miles and Mitch Henry and a band was born."

This album contains no booklet.