Posted on 07/01/2008
After Mos Def, equipped with a full orchestra, ripped Carnegie Hall last Saturday night-- he wasn’t done--he took to Manhattan, for an after party/jam session with the Robert Glasper Experiment.

Igmar & The Cypher warmed things up before Robert Glasper, accompanied by Casey Benjamin, drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave and Derrick Hodge on the bass, took the stage shortly before 2am and kept the party jamming through 'till 4am. The Glasper Experience brought their inherently unique, futuristic soul-sound to an intimate, comfortable crowd of roughly 300.

Robert and band mate Casey Benjamin, armed with keyboard, vocoder, and sax, served as the catalysts and blasted-off on some intergalactic, Space Odyssey-2008 shit! They brought that cosmic, urbanized thump.

Early on, the 4 piece set got into a little Herbie Hancock—“Come Running to Me.” The 4-piece band became a 6-piece when joined by an additional saxophonist and trumpet player. In between songs, drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave provided percussive eruptions on the skins akin to the chaos, unpredictable nature, and impact of Mount. St. Helens. They offered an amplified version of (computer) Love Supreme that drove the crowd insane. Mos laid in the cut on Robert's right flank enjoying the The Experience’s acoustic soular system. He then sprang to center stage, head bobbin’ locked into the perpetual groove theory.

Mos asked the question “What is life, without Dilla?” That set the tone for the whole jam session. Dilla was Mos Definitely in the building Saturday, June 28! The Robert Glasper Experiment performed spirited versions of Jay Dee helmed Slum Village instant classics “Fantastic,” and “Fall in Love.”

Casey Benjamin launched into “MC 2” during and Mos literally lost it. Mos teased and accented with “Get up, Get up Get up!” There were times when Mos stepped of stage to applaud and admire the creative genius of the Rob G experiment. Mr. Glasper went ape-shit on the keys and zoned out to the sickest, most soulfully esoteric places.

Mos seemed truly overwhelmed by the musicians’ drive and musical prowess. It was pure electromagnetic soul. The band went deeper into the Dilla catalog, later serving up “Thelonius,” which was aptly complemented by a cyborg sax-solo from Benjamin. Check it out!


Mos summed the jam out with one phrase or —“4 crying out loud, the style is wild!” He repeated the mantra intermittently through this section of the jam session. The ensemble went on to offer an acoustic blessing—this time in the form of a previously unreleased Dilla interlude. Mos peppered the instrumental styling with slick freestyles.

The Robert Glasper Experiment raised the stakes with an intense, unbridled offering of “Stakes is High.” Mos Def jumped in to deliver an intensely urgent version of De La’s lyrics with clarity, passion, and conviction. The horn section was so crisp, so live.

Next they segued to ‘Fall in Love.” Soul induced ecstasy. The band then teased with the opening notes of “Umi Says,” and Mos launched into a spirited, albeit abbreviated version of the cut. But the band played on, the party aint’ over. The Glasper Experiment kept serving treats slightly past 4 a.m.

After the exhaustive set, Mos did an impromptu meet and greet session with adoring fans. It was a good look on all fronts. Okayplayer was in the house.

- Mel Blunt

The amazing evening wouldn't have come together without Revive Da Live. Over the past couple years, Revive Da Live has produced some of the most innovative shows to hit the stage where the pairing of hip-hop and jazz is nothing short of amazing. Most recently, Revive Da Live brought legendary MC Guru to the stage with Grammy Award winning artist Roy Hargrove. In the past, The Experiment has gone head to head with the Mighty Mos Def and Bilal among others. Keep your eyes open for more events from the Revive Da Live crew!  Go to www.myspace.com/revivedalive to read more about the movement, artists, events + more.

Photos by HUMANphotography

Mos Def Big Band with special guest Gil Scott-Heron. Photos, videos, and more.

On Saturday, the world famous Carnegie Hall played host to the Mos Def Big Band with special guest Gil Scott-Heron as part of the JVC Jazz Festial New York.  From carnegiehall.org:

"Already a wildly successful vocalist, musician, and actor, Mos Def has taken the next logical step with the creation of the Mos Def Band, rolling hip hop, jazz, and soul into one thrilling sound. Special guest Gil Scott-Heron first made his name decades ago with his no-nonsense anthem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Together, the two artists have created an evening of music and spoken words with material drawn from Miles Davis, Beyoncé, James Brown, and others."

One of said "others" was Jay Electronica, who Mos gave serious props to with an acepella version of the second verse from “Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” followed by the orchestra playing a piece of Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine composition.  Listen/Download and view the full photo gallery from Terrence Jennings below.

Mos Def  - Verse 2 from Jay Electronica's “Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)”
Download/Listen: http://www.zshare.net/audio/14439663d264fdfc/

Props to Highvoltage, the hip-hop taper, who also posted a play-by-play of songs performed at the show on the boards.  Check back tomorrow for a write up and photos from the after-party.  If you dont already have "Act 1"... shame on you!  It's only the finest piece of lyricism so far this decade, IMO.  Get it from FWMJ and please, pay attention.  Are you watching closely?

All photos © 2008 Terrence Jennings



Also watch these 3 vids of Mos at Carnegie Hall thanks to FWMJ and Rappers I Know.







Lastly (we swear), ANOTHER vid thanks to FWMJ, from Chris "Daddy" Dave and Friends feat. Mos Def performing "E=MC^2" off J Dilla's The Shining, live from the official afterparty.