PROGRESSIVE MUSIC AND SONG THAT LIVES, GROOVES, AND SINGS DEEPLY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER,
BILL BANFIELD:
Hello, Friends! Welcome to Jazz Urbane!
The Jazz Urbane is a contemporary recording/performing collective which embraces and is infused with great R&B song-writing, melodies, band grooves and style. Not really a “New Movement”, just a new configuration of mindset/artistry. It is a “Collaborative Of Artists”, a music that crosses several bridges. This is music that has grown from urban places and thrives because of creative musicians who are tapped into the people, and into progressive, music- art that is urbane, hip and non-categorical. The Jazz Urbane represents too, the rise of frustration among musicians with “non-musical culture” dominating mainstream radio, music, media.
Musically, the past lifeline of Jazz progression has always been its reach to younger creative impulses. In that collaborative exchange comes “new voices”, an inspiring charged collective, movements of style, aesthetics, a sound, approach. These never severed themselves from the “Blues-Afro-Collective-Spiritual-Pulse”, and never dislocated from common-folks’ “Dance And Move” in the world. Such progressive movements were always led by practicing musicians. Market promoters don’t determine nor define art, only artists say where the music is coming from and where the music is, will be and the reasons where and why it should go.
Over 30 years ago The Bill Banfield Band, that seminal group, began in Boston in 1981 and included young Boston performers Najee, Rachel Z, Billy Kilson, Carla Cook, And Regina Carter. Its B Magic Music ASCAP affiliation for the publishing company came In 1985. The company and band's first release was listed in Billboard Magazine the same year.
- Bill Banfield, CEO
