Raphael Saadiq:new album info

Slowly but surely more news is coming in about Saadiqs new album-project..It will be titled " The Way I see it" and features some legendary Motown cats to make his 60's concept even more authentic. Not only some session musicians but also arranger Paul Riser who did strings for Diana Rosss will contribute. Even more spectacular is a collabo with Stevie Wonder playing his harmonica. "The Way I see it" will hit the stores this summer

Session Files: Benjamin Wright

Benjamin Wright arranged and conducted strings on most of Instant Vintage and As Ray Ray. He also worked on earlier TTT stuff
but did you know this gentleman is the same guy who did the strings arrangements for Boogie wonderland and Off the Wall!!!l. Benjamin Wright has an extraordinary curriculum. He worked with everybody from Quincy Jones to Earth Wind & Fire and more recently with Justin Timberlake , Jamiroquai , Outkast ,Joss Stone and many others.

When will they release it?? The new Tony Toni Tone

Six months ago Dwayne Wiggins announced in VIBE magazine a new TTT album has been recorded featuring songs with Beyonce, Slick Rick and Oakland native Keyshia Cole. Originally planned to be released in early 2007 but a year later it 's still nowhere to be found..The album doesn' t feature Raphael Saadiq but his replacement Ahmar Khalil. Of course he's not as great as Saadiq but I guess he is what Leroy Hutson used to be compared to Curtis Mayfield, when he replaced the singer in the Impressions. A great vocalist on an almost impossible job replacing a legendary artist. I even think Amar went the same direction as Hutson who left the Impressions after one album..Khalil's myspace is showing a recent flyer that says amar khalil"formerly of tony toni tone". If the new TTT will ever be released remains a question. There's no specific info about release dates or any record label associated with the group

S.O.S. Archive/ Kenya Gruv-Top of the world

Kenya Gruv is one of the guitarists associated with a lot of projets of Raphael and D'wayne. He also recorded this track for the Menace II Society soundtrack in 1993. It's produced by D'wayne Wiggins. a nice song with that signature Dwayne Wiggins sound..Kenya Gruv was also part of the Lucy Pearl backing band and is currently the guitarist with Joss Stone

New raphael saadiq productions will appear on Noel Gourdin album

Noel Gourdin is another new artist who worked with Raphael saadiq on his soon to be released debut

a quote from his bio:

“I know a lot of people say this, but I think he’s just a breath of fresh air [right now],” explains Kay Gee. “I think the fact that we haven’t heard singers like him in a while, mixed with the sound of his falsetto, lets us know that there’s something missing in the music industry right now. I think there’s a lane open for his sound.” Raphael Saadiq wholeheartedly agrees, adding, “Noel’s a young soul who can sing in all kinds of different areas

http://www.noelmusic.net/

well, another item to look out for in 2008!!!!

A lil' bit of "Bass" again: Legendary EW&F Bassist about R.Saadiq (nov.2005)

What was it like working with Raphael Saadiq?

Wonderful! If EWF was starting today, he’d be in it. He really gets it; in fact, he’s even more Old School than we are, but he completely understood how to balance who we were with who we are today. And his two bass tracks are great; he had me try his P-Bass, and he turned me on to La Bella black nylon strings. I played on his third tune, “Pass Me By,” because it reminded me of a song on our second album, called “I Think About Lovin’ You,” and Sly & the Family Stone’s “Everybody Is a Star.” It was just myself on my Yamaha TRB4—which is the only bass I used on the album—and Raphael on guitar, recording to the drum track.

wishful thinking: Raphael Saadiq Mos Def plus a female singer forming a supergroup

When my favourite rappers Common and Q-tip confirmed the rumours about their forthcoming group effort "The Standard"(hopefully to be released sooner than kamaalthe abstract!!!!) I remembered this quote I've read 5 years ago:

Saadiq promised that the public will be hearing him in another trio.
"I like groups," he explained. "It's fun to get people in a room and just create. It would be a whole new thing. It will probably be me, Mos Def and somebody else."

full article:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459438/20030108/saadiq_raphael.jhtml



I know 5 years is a lifetime ago, but I still like the idea of such a supergroup. Imagine Saadiq and Mos Def together with a singer like Teedra Moses or Kelis or maybe Joss Stone(might be easier to organize nowadays!!) . Now that would be "True Magic"!!!! Well, at least it would wash away the memory of that mediocre crap Mos Def released the last couple of years.

Style Iconz: Prepped Out Look

The Wiggins brothers were always different when it came to "style and fashion". From their colourfull hats and suits during their "Revival" period to the cool classic "Sam Cooke" look on House of Music. And what about the Japanese inspired dress Saadiq is wearing on the cover of Instant Vintage. Here's a 1990 interview on youtube where they both explain their different fashion concept





Lately Raphael has been spotted in a more Preppy way. Here's a picture of him on his early 2008 album listening party in NY. he's wearing a classy v-neck, a nice driver cap and great retro glasses. If you want some of his flavour check out these links:

Shuron still makes classy vintage looking glasses. Since the Shuron glasses are new, you get them without scratches and in a perfect fit.



http://www.shuron.com/

La copolla Storta is an italian brand specialized in all kinds of hats and caps. They also have a line in collaboration with rapper and headwear fanatic Common



http://www.lacoppolastorta.com/

Pringle of Scotland. One of the traditional menswear companies from the UK. Now revitalised but still as preppy as you can get

http://www.pringlescotland.com/

Session Files: Carl Wheeler

Another important player in the TTT history is Carl Wheeler who played keyboards on most of their records.He also wrote my favourite ballad for the group called "Anniversary"



Carl Wheeler's unique R&B style has evolved from his childhood musical director for churches and major recording artists has contributed to his success as a writer/producer with a keen sense of today's commercial market.
At eleven years old Carl began arranging songs as well as conducting interviews and sang for a bay area TV program called "Just Kidding". During his junior and senior years Carl was the assistant conductor for the castlemont Castleteers at Castlemont High School in Oakland, CA.

Along with some high school friends, he became the keyboardist and background vocalist for Shella E. They were the opening act for Lionel Ritchie on the "Dancing on the Ceiling" tour. They also toured Japan with the "Artist".

The group Toni! Toni! Ton'e! assembled in 1986 and Carl was the Keyboardist and musical director. The Toni's went on to record their first album in 1987 entitled "Who?". The groups second album "Revival" came in 1989. Carl co-wrote many songs on that project including two #1 hits "Feel Good" and "Whatever You Want". Carl also wrote the #1 hit and Grammy Nominated song "Anniversary" from the groups third album "Sons of Soul".

Carl has produced and recorded two Gospel albums and also toured with Walter, Edwin and Tramaine Hawkins. He also toured with Lynette Stephens.

Carl has played with a number of artist such as Bobby Mcferrin, Too Short and on the re-mix of "The Morning Ater". He also owns and operates "Coda Studios" in Oakland, California.

Raphael Saadiq- unreleased song

Raphael Saadiq-I need you everyday



wow!! This is a great song..I don't know when it's recorded but I don't think it's part of the new saadiq album..It doesn't sound like the 60's inspired sound he promised for his 2008 columbia records album

Session Files: Charles Veal Jr.

Raphael Saadiq loves classic 60's and 70's soul/funk music. We know that from his collabo's with cats like the Isley Brothers and Earth Wind & Fire , but he also worked with lesser known but very important "old-school" musicians on several of his projects. One of these characters is violinist/arranger Charles Veal jr. who contibuted on Instant vintage together with his South Central Chamber Orchestra. He aso orchestrated and performed on the song 'Let me know"( from theTTT album House of Music )and played solo violin on the tonyes album "Sons of Soul"

Charles worked consistently in the 70's and '80's as a concert-master, arranging and conducting strings on albums for numerous R & B artists, including Creative Source ('Pass The Feeling On'), George Duke, Webster Lewis and Be Be & Ce Ce Winans.

He also recorded two solo albums for Capitol, 'Only The Best' including 'If You Ever Need Somebody' (later covered by Gladys Knight on her self titled 1979 album) (1980) and 'Believe It' including 'New Found Love' (1981).

'Only The Best' featured artistic input from Patrice Rushen, Paulinho Da Costa, Paul Jackson Jnr, Stanley Clarke, Cheryl Lynn, Joe Cocker and Ernie Watts.

S.O.S. Archive/ Blu Out of the blu

Out of the blu is an album released in 1995 masterminded by d'wayne wiggins.Despite it's high quality it wasn't a commercial success. Maybe because the organic sound of the album was still a novelty in 1995.Out of the blu came out before D'angelo's Brown Sugar and Baduizm and the whole neo-soul movement that follewed afterwards

CJ Young, new artist produced by Raphael Saadiq

CJ Young is a new artist also produced by Raphael Saadiq. He's signed on Capitol Records and will also feature on Saadiq's forthcoming album..


check out his myspace:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=187026477

cj young-young politics video collage(check out some nice studio pics of raphael sadiq during the cj young recording sessions)





Although this is a fine tune I feel CJ is trying too hard to sound like a modern-day Marvin Gaye. It's especially obvious on some songs you'll find on his myspace like Tonight and Modest. However I still prefer it above 90% of the garbage, people are releasing lately

D'wayne Wiggins and the Fender Coronado

The great D'wayne wiggins seems to have a love for Fender Coronados, a vintage unique hollow-body guitar totally different from the usual fender guitars. Despite their great sound ,Coronados were underrated and unsuccesfull at the time.. Wiggins played on several Coronados that are usually customized with a lot of taste


here are some clips of D'wayne playing on his Coronados.. The one he plays on the live gis is probably the same guitar shown on the TTT album sleeve of "House of Music"

recent raphael saadiq clip on youtube pt.3

recent raphael saadiq clip on youtube pt.2

recent raphael saadiq clip on youtube pt.1

Raphael Saadiq about his Bass playing

Raphael Saadiq: Bumpy Potatoes

March, 2005

How do you describe the groove?

People love your songs because of the groove. When I'm writing, I usually add the bass line groove last. It varies, but in general I usually go for meat-and-potatoes lines that bump.

How do you cultivate the groove?

On the real laid-back feels, it's all about dancing around a drummer who's playing straight. I like to use my thumb like a pick. It's like a drum. Ghost-notes-the stuff you don't hear but feel-that's where it's at. You put a funky drummer behind a bass player just rumbling with all these ghost notes and it's like, "damn!"

How do you to get into the groove?

It starts with a great song. I respect the song and listen for what it needs. When I'm playing live, the people feed me the groove energy.

Where does your groove come from?

It's a combination of all my influences-cats like Larry Graham, Prince, Pino Palladino, T-Bone Wolk, Preston Crump, and Will Lee. Those dudes are no joke.

This Blog is dedicated to Raphael Saadiq and his brother D'wayne Wiggins, formerly from Tony!Toni!Tone. Two of the most important characters in the development of soul music in the last two decades