Jazz and Draw Feature

Some of my Jazz Portraits are featured on this site along side other great artists such as Lance Jackson, Nidhi Chanani, and many others. The pieces featured are of Oliver Nelson, Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, and Pharoah Sanders. Check out the site here:

http://www.jazzanddraw.com/

Jazz Collage: Portraits & Typography (2010-2013)

Here is a collage of most of the portraits and type I did over the past two or three years related to Jazz Musicians of the past and present. I cannot remember how I started this but I do remember wanting to try out some things whether they failed or worked. Weird styles, different color patterns, some of my favorites, etc, etc. Anyways, like many I found jazz through hip hop and for that I am truly grateful. It not only opened my mind to a different musical patterns, but different religions, philosophies, and world views.

Portraits: Lto R : Cassandra Wilson, Madlib, Etta James, Roy Ayers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Oliver Nelson, Amel Larrieux, John Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Nujabes, Freestyle Fellowship, Patrice Rushen, Bobbi Humphrey, Headnodic, Esperanza Spalding, Pharoah Sanders, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jose James, Abbey Lincoln, Dizzy Gillespie, Muhsinah, Mulatu Astatke, Eligayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, Jneiro Jarel, Celia Cruz

Type: L to R: A-Amel Larrieux, B-Bebel Gilberto, C-Coltrane, D-Digable Planets, E-Esperanza Spalding, F-Freddie Joachim, G-Guru, H-Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, I-Invisible Skratch Piklz, J-Jneiro Jarel, K-Kat 010, L-Linda Oh, M-Miles Davis, N-Nina Simone, O-Oliver Nelson, P-Pancho Sanchez, Q-Quadron, R-Robert Glasper, S-Stuyvesants, T-Thelonius monk, U-Ulysses Owens Jr, V-Vinia Mojica, W-Wayne Shorter, X- nadie, Y-Yesterdays New Quintet, Z-Zelia Barbosa

 Some of my favorite songs from over the many Jazz posts are: and disclaimer, you might not think of some of these cuts as Jazz, but they are to me. Look out for more Jazz artwork and Posters soon.

John Coltrane-Aisha
Patrice Rushen-Before the dawn
Mulatu Astatke-Tezeta
Meshell Ndegeocello-Aquarium
Madlib-Dear God and Stepping into Tomorrow
Dorothy Ashby-Drink
Oliver Nelson-Stolen Moments
Zelia Barbosa-Pedro Dina
Amel Larrieux-We can be new
Roy Ayers-Aint got time
Bobbi Humphrey-My little girl
Headnodic-Something feat Rashaan Ahmad
Donald Byrd-Places and spaces
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble-Sankofa
Vinia Mojica-Sands of time
Digable Planets-Pacifics (NY is red hot)
Robert Glasper-FTB

If you would like to see who else I drew or painted click the tags "Jazz" "typography" and/or "Jazz Portraits"

Clean out studio=Art Sale

I'm trying to get rid of some stuff in my room and my studio that would probably look better in your home, office, classroom, or place of work. From now until November 30th you may use this code (GREAT22) to obtain a 50% discount off art in my store. STORE link

Postcards!

Postcards of Meshell and Short Story 10, ready to send to Art Directors, friends, and supporters.

Purchase here

Jazz Portraits 29-Meshell Ndegeocello (revisited)

This is a print, so if you'd like a copy of this original 11"x17" piece, go here to the store.

I decided to revisit Meshell for fun and because I felt i could improve on the last illustration of her. I know the songs i list in my piece are not all Jazz Songs, but that is the beauty of music. What is Jazz really? What is any musical genre? Sure there are rules, but often people don't even know what they want to see or hear until they experience it, then it changes the rules with out asking permission.

About this piece. I decided to mix up various photos of her and I know it does not look exactly like her, but that wasn't the point. The point was to have fun and just interpret through my lens. Also, I wanted to share her music with any of you music lovers who are not yet familiar with her sound.

I've been a fan of her music for quite some time, if you get a chance, support her by getting one of her many and diverse records. One love!

Jazz Portrait 28- Donald Byrd (Trumpet)

I can't believe I have not done a new Jazz Portrait since October. A compilation poster of all the portraits and the typography thus far will be ready soon for your viewing and purchasing enjoyment. In the meantime, this one is available as an 11" x 17" digital print.

 The design stems from blah blah blah. Nada, it was fun to create,punto. And the words are of some of my favorite Donald Byrd songs. Please support his music.

I think the first time I was introduced to Byrd (Rest In Peace) was through Black Moon out of Brooklyn. Like many hip hoppers of the time I was eager to find out where the hell these sounds they were using came from. I found that other groups such as Digable Planets, Gangstarr, Dilla, and more were sampling his work and it opened my mind to his music. I wont do a whole bio but he played traditional and fusion, and he's one of the few Jazz musicians like Ron Carter who played WITH hip hop groups instead of complaining about how they didnt get this or that. Don Was (Blue Note) wrote a nice piece about him. And peep this concert of him performing with The Blackbyrds( I think), a group of young musicians from Morehosue college who he took under his wing.Annnd the Mizell Brothers!

If anyone has connects to his family, let me know. I would love to work with them to work towards his memory. RIP.

Dig this? Check out this one of Bobbi Humphrey

Also, peep this 2009 collab w/Joy Liu and Sake 1