New Music | Paul Beaubrun

We are excited to announce the release of Paul Beaubrun’s fourth solo album, Limyè A La, the culmination of three years of direct collaboration with Paul’s long time friend Michael Brun, and the evolution of his musical style and world view after years of touring in the US, most recently with Arcade Fire.

Limyè A La translates to ‘The Light Within’, an apt title for Paul’s continued gifts to the world. His history is filled with challenges, first as a family member of Boukman Eksperyans, the Haitian band whose name references Dutty Boukman (whose religious ceremony started the Haitian revolution in 1791), and subsequently the ongoing situation in Haiti. Paul continues to educate the world about Haiti, and to bring positive energy through music for all to heal and move forward.

Limyè A La features a powerful cast including Michael Brun, Naika, Shirazee, KOLO, Kabysh, Badio, Keila Casasola Beaubrun, CIMAFUNK, and Keyon Harrold. Beaubrun keeps a balance of American roots and pop, with a strong Haitian rhythmic and cultural style. 

Out Today - the third single (with Michaël Brun) and featuring Shirazee!

New Music | Emilio Reyna

From the prolific community that is Ropeadope SUR comes a new project from Emilio Reyna, a forward-thinking jazz pianist who aims to push the possibilities of modern improvised music while maintaining a sense of sincerity and tradition. In high demand on the Mexico City Jazz scene, Reyna has collaborated with Jonathan Barber, Silvana Estrada, Yotam Ben Or, Minino Garay, Phil Grenadier, Gabriel Puentes, and Diego Franco. He describes his new album in this way:

Los Niños Perdidos (The Lost Kids) is rooted in the philosophical notion that human beings enter existence as tabula rasa, devoid of inherent programming. We’re born with a cognitive blank canvas, ready to be filled with the information, habits, fears, and memories from what we inevitably experience in our lives. Over the course of our childhood, our rational mind gradually takes control over our intuitive nature and little by little we become attached to these ideas, believing them to be who we are: our perceived identity. I believe it’s important to work to deconstruct this concept of self, to see things with an open mind, as if it were the first time, without the prejudices accumulated over the years. Part of my job as a musical improviser is learning to bring this mindset into the studio and the stage; to stay present and approach music with fresh ears and without judgment. The intention is to simply serve the music and leave the ego aside.

Experience Los Niños Perdidos in full this Friday May 17, 2024.

Bright Dog Red

The cats that are Bright Dog Red are back; this time with two new albums that bring the Yin and Yang back into balance and flow. If you’re new to their vibe it goes like this - gather with your talented friends and pour your spirit into a fully improvised session with nothing but your intent as a guide. Bad Magic and Hegemonetized are the sixth and seventh Bright Dog Red albums released here at ropeadope, and for an ensemble that creates on the spot there is a solid throughline to their art. Each album seems to build upon and outsmart the last. Here are some words from bandleader Joe Pignato on the purpose and reasons:

Bad Magic began with a set of themes to inspire the individual contributors, the prevalence of misinformation, antiscientific thinking, and other forms of deception subverting online platforms and cultural and political discourses.

As we started making Bad Magic, the sessions took on two palpably distinct characters. Some improvisations had a contemplative or atmospheric air, but others were more aggressive, reflecting a kind of urgency. It became clear that we were developing two discrete yet related concepts simultaneously. Those more forceful tracks became Hegemonitized.

The fact this this feels like the musical equivalent of a classic novel is to be savored. Make some time, dust it off, get on that bus, and let it all begin.

New Music | Nation Beat

Funk. Bop. Forró. Brass.
Pounded by calloused hands, blasted from tightened lips,
It calls across time and continents, uplifting hearts and moving hips and feet.
It’s the force that blew through Louis Armstrong in the twenties.
It’s the power that gets Brazilians dancing in the streets for Carnival.
It’s the freedom that sets the music on fire.
It’s Nation Beat.

Everybody get up! The new Nation Beat is on the way and it’s time to shake off whatever is on our minds and have some fun. The full album - Archaic Humans - is due on May 31, but today we jump right in and Give A Little with special guest Christylez Bacon. Come on, come on…