I really hope this is a serious tribute and not something really milquetoast.
But has Brantera produced any other projects? Just wondering

Gospel star Donald Lawrence and Grammy-nominated producer Rex Rideout are among the first collaborators to sign up for an all-star tribute album honoring legendary R&B group Maze, Billboard has learned exclusively. "I Wanna Thank You...An All-Star Tribute to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly" is being produced through Brantera Music Group Inc., headed by Beverly's son Anthony.

In addition to Lawrence, who is contributing a full-blown gospel version of Maze's 1984 track, "I Wanna Thank You," Anthony is currently negotiating with several other veteran and new artists from the R&B, gospel and jazz arenas. Rideout is serving as co-producer of the project, whose selections will include a cross section of memorable Maze tunes, among them: the No. 1 R&B hits "Back in Stride" and "Can't Get Over You," "Silky Soul," "Before I Let Go" and "Golden Time of Day."

Getting its big break in the early '70s as the backing band and opening act on a Marvin Gaye tour, Maze signed with Capitol and later segued to Warner Bros.. The group's first major R&B chart credit was 1977's "While I'm Alone" which peaked at No. 21.

"After 30 hit singles and 12 albums, I thought it was time to get this done," says Anthony, who doubles as the project's executive producer. "The group's longevity boils down to one word: real. My father is real about everything he does; that's what people love about Maze. And that's what I'm trying to bring off with this record, using live instruments and artists who exemplify—and have been influenced by what my father is about musically."

While distribution is still being discussed, Anthony plans to release the first single by Father's Day and follow with the album in August. A special commemorative DVD will also be produced, featuring interviews with the project participants as well as legendary R&B and jazz artists, current and former music executives and community leaders about the Maze legacy.

A tribute web site launches in mid-April at frankiebeverlytribute.com. Among its offerings: an ultimate Maze fan video contest with the winner participating in some of the album release events. Promotional tie-ins involving the tribute album will also take place in New Orleans at the Essence Music Festival. This year's festival (July 3-5) will conclude with a special icons tribute to Maze. The group has traditionally closed the festival since its 1995 inception.

we just saw them in concert
a few weeks ago

AMAZING as usual

I love MAZE.

Something about Maze makes me

SCNDLS said:

Really?

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, same songs, same arrangements, same mofos doing the Electric Slide at the concert.

I mean, I appreciate them doing live music but in general

SCNDLS said:

AH I see.

Timmy84 said:[quote]

SCNDLS said:

*dead*

mcw00 said:[quote]

Timmy84 said:

Actually I heard some people do be doing that. When that "Joy & Pain" comes in, they probably do the cha-cha slide to it.

Timmy84 said:

Ain't no "some" 'bout it. I saw them at Essence the year Prince was there and 20,000 Negroes did the 'lectric slide for 2 gatdamn hours. I thought I was on another planet. I asked the people next to me what the fuck was going on and they informed me that it's a tradition. They close Essence EVERY year and this is type o' madness that ensues. I decided then and there that any band that induces a 'lectric slide marathon is doing the devil's work and I could have no part of it.

SCNDLS said:

Aw hell naw!

SCNDLS said:

You're not even moved by Runnin Away?

SCNDLS said:

I feel ya. I love their music and have seen them 6 or 8 times, but until they release new material, I won't be going to see them again. They have changed the arrangements slightly throughout the years, but not much. They also do the same songs over and over. They don't seem to want to dig deep into their album cuts to mix it up.

SCNDLS said:

Maybe that's why they held out for more money this year from Essence. They are the STARS of the show.

How 'bout that, Beyonce. U and Solange are opening for Maze and they haven't released an album in almost 20 years.
[Edited 4/7/09 20:20pm]

daPrettyman said:

I've only seen em twice
and I agree with this

"Joy & Pain" is call & response
you almost can do his adlibs with him

and this last time we saw em
when "We Are One" came on
automatically I felt my arm going up
finger pointing to the sky

they cater to a certain kind of crowd
a crowd that don't mind hearing the
same same same songs every show

and that works for them
they sell great... ANYWHERE they go

so if it ain't broke
I say don't fix it

but I agree, I wished they woulda
done songs like "The Look In Your Eyes"
or "Feel That You're Feeling"

DirtyChris said:

"Feel That You're Feeling" is one of those songs that they do occasionally. I've heard them sing that one a couple of times. But, for the most part, they keep the same core songs.

mcw00 said:[quote]

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

now that I think about it
I do remember them doing FTYF
at the show in Monroe, LA

daPrettyman said:

That's my favorite MAZE song. I laughed when I saw their New Orleans performance of it and Frankie goin' "Ah shit now!" Of course it was bleeped.

phunkdaddy said:

I really do like a lot of their songs but after awhile, yeah

Huge fan of these guys! My favorite songs....

"The Look In Your Eyes" (1980)

"Running Away" (1981)
"Before I Let Go" (1981)
"We Are One" (1983)
"Southern Girl" (1980)
"Joy And Pain" (1980)
"Can't Get Over You" (1989)

hell,there aren't too many Maze songs that I don't like

These guys have never cared about crossing over.They've stayed true to their roots.

phunkdaddy said:

I love that song!! When I hear it,it takes me right back to the summer of '81.That synth riff is hypnotic!!

Timmy84 said:

That's my favorite Maze song also.

Are you referring to the Live in New Orleans DVD/CD?

SoulAlive said:

I don't think they cared about crossing over, but they wanted to be bigger than what they were. I think Frankie always wanted to win major awards at first, but I think after he had made a few albums, he realized that he probably would never achieve that type of success.

I admire him for taking lots of young r&b acts under their wings and teaching them how to achieve longevity in this business. I know Gerald Levert, Toni Braxton, Babyface, The Deele and more have all toured with Maze and taught them about the business.

SCNDLS said:

daPrettyman said:

I was amazed when I saw that actual performance on TV one night (it was on BETJ).

It's kind of telling that Frankie Beverly & Maze never made another album after Back to Basics. Definitely the changing of the guard, they didnt want to become like "Temptations" or "Earth Wind and Fire"(in the eighties) and do bullshit albums with a bunch of contempo keyboard workstation producers.

I call it W & B Workstation and Blues. Part of the problem with R&B is the symptoms that Teddy,Dallas and Jimmy Jam gave us. Which is, people realized the technology could make alot of $$$ if utilized properly without a band. But the fatal flaw is those guys were musical geniuses and the followers that came after? Didn't really make an effort just xeroxed each other to death That was the virus that we were infected with and now R&B is just coming out of that Jack Swing Virus and a strain of Hip Hop has infected it to the point of internal bleeding. In the short term it made perfect sense but in the longterm it didn't make alot of sense of the legacy & protecting the dillution for the music.

Trickology said:

I know Frankie got sick and they had to take a year or so off. They have been touring constantly for about the last 12 to 15 years, though. From my understanding, they have several albums of new material recorded, but Frankie is not satisfied with it. Does anyone know if WB finally dropped them from the roster?

daPrettyman said:

Frankie recently appeared on our local Quiet Storm/R&B station and he announced that there will be a new CD later this year.Not sure if it'll be on Warners,though.

SoulAlive said:

He's been saying that in interviews for the last 10 years I know. I'm hoping for new material.