Butcher Brown is an
up-to-the minute throwback to the great progressive jazz bands of the 60s and
70s. Whilst all members
were born after the mid-70s golden age of fusion, their modern,
hip-hop-inflected funk has rich echoes of Weather Report, Return to Forever,
early Earth Wind and Fire and, perhaps, a pungent whiff of Zappa. Like those
bands, Butcher Brown’s unified sound comes from the intertwined talents of the
five members, each bringing something unique to the mix.
Whilst each individual member
maintains their own illustrious side-projects (working with artists such as
Christian Scott, Nigel Hall, Mumu Fresh, Black Thought, Phonte, Rapsody, 9th
Wonder), Butcher Brown is a hard-working band in an era where most groups are
fleeting assemblages, together only long enough to record. The band cultivate a dedicated audience
through combining a conventional, label-oriented approach with releasing
“underground” tapes, disciplined rehearsal and engaging, adventurous
performance. Recent high-profile performances include touring with Galactic
last year &
performing alongside bands such as Lettuce, Eric Krasno, Soullive, John
Schofield, Tauk, & Motet whilst their future schedule looks packed as they
prepare to support Kamasi Washington’s US dates this autumn.
Butcher Brown’s releases to date
range from the polished soul/funk of “All Purpose Music” (Ropeadope) (2014) to the 20-track
underground groove-laden beats cassette “GrownFolk” in 2015. Both were released
to critical acclaim and explains their almost cult status in the music world.
The band have come in leaps and bounds in recent times: last year’s “Live at
the Vagabond” (Gearbox) record showcases the raw energy of their live shows, whilst
the band’s most recent Bandcamp release, Afrobeat-themed “Afrokuti: A Tribute
to Fela”, provides further testament to the band’s tight synchronicity as well
as the truly unbelievable musical capabilities of each band member.
Multi-instrumentalist
Devonne Harris is arguably the visionary of this egalitarian band. His
responsive keyboard work shapes the harmonic colors through which the music
pulses and flows. Under the name DJ Harrison, he’s created a vast catalog of
hip hop beat tapes. He recently released a solo album entitled “Hazy Moods” on
Stones Throw Records, the Los Angeles label responsible for releases by Madlib,
J Dilla, and many more. Jellowstone Records, his home studio, is a pivotal
focus of the vital Richmond music scene, with a growing reputation drawing big
name visitors including Nicholas Payton (who recorded his 2014 record “Numbers”
there with Butcher Brown). Recently projects include playing keys and synths on
Jack White’s latest album “Boarding House Reach,” having selections featured on
Phonte’s solo album “No News is Good News,” and taking part in DJ Jazzy Jeff’s
2nd and 3rd annual Playlist
Retreat
Bassist Andrew Randazzo
is arguably the band’s navigator. “He’s the cool one, the
calm one. He’s the mortar, binding together the rhythmic and harmonic side of
the music. Both onstage and off, he holds everything together and makes
everything go smoothly. And he is an amazing player.” In the band’s
funk-inflected music, the foundation is foreground; the bass as much a lead as
a rhythm instrument.
Drummer Corey Fonville
is pure explosive energy. “He’s always ready for battle,” Harris says. “A huge,
controlling factor in our sound.” A
percussion prodigy turned international jazz sideman, Fonville’s national performance
career when he was just 14, with a 2005 appearance on Late Night with David
Letterman. In the years since, Fonville’s taken his propulsive energy around
the world, playing with Christian Scott at New York’s The Blue Note and
performing alongside Chris “Daddy” Dave in China. He’s the beating heart of
Butcher Brown, pumping out fresh, danceable rhythmic complexities aimed at both
the brain and the hips.
Guitarist Morgan Burrs
is the youngest of the group. Coming from a family of musicians, and being
surrounded by all types of music since birth, you could say he was destined to
lead a life as a musician. In high school, he was awarded 2 full tuition
scholarships to study at Berklee College of Music’s 5 Week Summer program 2
years in a row, & having attended VCU, he’s become a force on the Richmond
Music scene. He’s recently performed at Budweiser’s Made In America Festival
with hip-hop producer legend 9th Wonder and rapper Rapsody
Marcus Tenney is a multi-instrumentalist from
Richmond, Virginia. Working freelance since 2005, Marcus has been playing
trumpet and saxophone with bands such as Foxygen and No BS! Brass. He has also done
studio/session work for Spacebomb Records and records and performs
original music with a host of his own ensembles. Marcus has worked with artists
such as Braxton Cook, Count Bass D, Matthew E.
White, Natalie Prass, Billy Williams and many others.
As a band dedicated to innovation and informed by a love of the past,
Butcher Brown’s modernistic fusion is aptly described as “hip hop Mahavishnu.”
Impressive as they are individually, together they are something increasingly
rare: a real band, playing for their audience and for each other, on the verge
of a brilliant future.
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