Frankie Beverly & Maze have added Jon Blackwell as their new drummer!

I'm gonna go see them in concert next month they're headlining a show in my area that also features Cameo,Gladys Knight and Will Downing.

SoulAlive said:

I'm gonna go see them in concert next month they're headlining a show in my area that also features Cameo,Gladys Knight and Will Downing.

Totally jealous, Maze and Cameo on the same bill. Living in a wee village in Scotland deffo has its drawbacks.

Blackwell is too good for that kind of music

SuperFunk59 said:

SoulAlive said:

I'm gonna go see them in concert next month they're headlining a show in my area that also features Cameo,Gladys Knight and Will Downing.

Totally jealous, Maze and Cameo on the same bill. Living in a wee village in Scotland deffo has its drawbacks.

Spandau said:

Blackwell is too good for that kind of music

I'm going 2 have 2 agree.

Just an update on this, John is no longer playing with Maze, in fact he only played with them for a very short while.

Now that we are talking about John have any of you heard John's debut cd '4Ever Jia'?? its absolutely amazing and well worth picking up an excellnet jazz/Funk album and so much more. great collaborations with Charlie Singleton (Cameo) and beautiful mellow songs with Esperanza Spaulding and Sue Quin. It can be downloaded from Itunes (just enter John Blackwell Project), digstation.com and Amazon.com and for those that prefer buying th actual physical copy of the cd ou can get it at www.cdbaby.com.

Thanks for that info dori ! I'll be checking that out ...

Also think it's sad to see that professional artists still have to be devided in music-levels. Maze has played through the years with a number of exellent skilled musicians.

Their current bassplayer is Larry Kimpel ... well, i've seen Larry perform some complex jazzrock with George Duke, so how is performing with Maze beneath him ?

I think the musicians themselves can make their own choices with who they like to perform.

yeah Shango you won't be dissapointed with '4Ever Jia' seriously good, has to be my favourite cd of the year

Shango said:

Also think it's sad to see that professional artists still have to be devided in music-levels. Maze has played through the years with a number of exellent skilled musicians.

Their current bassplayer is Larry Kimpel ... well, i've seen Larry perform some complex jazzrock with George Duke, so how is performing with Maze beneath him ?

I think the musicians themselves can make their own choices with who they like to perform.

I agree.There's nothing wrong with playing with a wonderfully talented band like Maze.They're the real deal!

Right on Soulalive , and thanks again dori. Just noticed what you posted before

JOHN BLACKWELL PROJECT '4...TATION.COM

johnblackwellproject.com

4ever Jia

Does Charlie Singleton sing on any tracks ? ... i'll have to check later

Yes he does Charlie sings and collaborated with John on two tracks 'Amazing' and 'Your'e The One'

Great looking forward to hear the project & Charlie, and also see that bassman Will Lee is in the group !

Yes Will lee, Corey Bernhard and Paul Pesco all great musicians within their own right.

Yes ! guitarist Paul Pesco too ! ... seen his name appear on a lot of albums Corey's name is new to me. Cool.

[Edited 9/1/10 12:44pm]

Yeah Paul Pesco has worked with some pretty big names, Mary J, Alicia Keys, Hall & oates, Madonna

[Edited 9/1/10 12:46pm]

dori said:

Yeah Paul Pesco has worked with some pretty big names, Mary J, Alicia Keys, Hall & oates, Madonna

Great stuff ! ... and oh man, i'm checking now the tracks on cdbaby. Funktaztik ! ... Charlie on "Amazing" ... ... amazing indeed & sounds somewhat like a new Cameo-track !

Great instrumental jams on there as well and Sue Quin singing lead on "No Ordinary Day" and "Jada" ... defenitely will be on my future-purchases ! Thanx again for this !

John Blackwell Project | ... | CD Baby

See I told you it was good

Sue sings vocal on Jada but on 'No Ordinary day' its Esperanza Spaulding.

Glad you liked it!!

dori said:

See I told you it was good

Sue sings vocal on Jada but on 'No Ordinary day' its Esperanza Spaulding.

Glad you liked it!!

Sho nuff good ! ... and i just indeed read in your other topic it was Esperanza

Best way to spread good music around through word of mouth

Gotta love John Blackwell. He's a fellow Columbia, SC native.

I remember i got to meet him for the first time playing drums

for Cameo back in 96.

SoulAlive said:

Shango said:

Also think it's sad to see that professional artists still have to be devided in music-levels. Maze has played through the years with a number of exellent skilled musicians.

Their current bassplayer is Larry Kimpel ... well, i've seen Larry perform some complex jazzrock with George Duke, so how is performing with Maze beneath him ?

I think the musicians themselves can make their own choices with who they like to perform.

I agree.There's nothing wrong with playing with a wonderfully talented band like Maze.They're the real deal!

yup..

SoulAlive said:

Shango said:

Also think it's sad to see that professional artists still have to be devided in music-levels. Maze has played through the years with a number of exellent skilled musicians.

Their current bassplayer is Larry Kimpel ... well, i've seen Larry perform some complex jazzrock with George Duke, so how is performing with Maze beneath him ?

I think the musicians themselves can make their own choices with who they like to perform.

I agree.There's nothing wrong with playing with a wonderfully talented band like Maze.They're the real deal!

They are top notch professionals but I've never understood the draw 2 them. They don't move me in any way shape or form.

Graycap23 said:

SoulAlive said:

I agree.There's nothing wrong with playing with a wonderfully talented band like Maze.They're the real deal!

They are top notch professionals but I've never understood the draw 2 them. They don't move me in any way shape or form.

Well, it took you awhile to finally get Hendrix...remember??

funkpill said:

Graycap23 said:

They are top notch professionals but I've never understood the draw 2 them. They don't move me in any way shape or form.

Well, it took you awhile to finally get Hendrix...remember??

Lol...........I've listened 2 Maze from day 1.

I never really paid attention 2 Jimi.

This would be the perfect time for Prince to fire Cora Coleman Dunham (and by extension Josh Dunham) and rehire John Blackwell. Of course, this is unlikely to happen, but John's musicianship could definitely enhance is studio output and live gigs.

bashraka said:

This would be the perfect time for Prince to fire Cora Coleman Dunham (and by extension Josh Dunham) and rehire John Blackwell. Of course, this is unlikely to happen, but John's musicianship could definitely enhance is studio output and live gigs.

One can only hope.