Tag: Eric Roberson

Singer/Songwriter Alvin Frazier

Alvin Frazier stirs up waves of love on RIVER

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Alvin Frazier is in the truest sense, a modern day Renaissance man. He is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer who’s released two acclaimed albums Love & Faith: Vol. 1 and A Wonderful Love: Love & Faith Vol. 2 which produced the hit duet with vocalist Cassandra Stewart,  “Something to Remember”.  He’s also shared the stage with acclaimed artists such as  George Clinton, Eric Roberson, The Ohio Players, Conya Doss, Kenny Lattimore, Avery Sunshine, and Angie Stone to name a few and is now the bassist for Grammy-winning, legendary R&B act, Dazz Band. Add to that, he’s also an experienced stage and screen actor who has appeared in films like Miles Ahead with Don Cheadle and the Academy Award winning film, Judas & The Black Messiah. 

As with many artists the year plus shutdown by way of the pandemic presented hands full of time but like many of them, for Frazier, giving in to it being idle was not an option.  This time presented the pre-pandemic, always busy artist the opportunity to complete and release his latest project, RIVER

RIVER is a soulfully seductive and convincing case made for the parallels between the ebb and flow of love and relationships and the ever changing rippling flow of a river. Quite an astute analogy and concept for Frazier to come up with that he shares in our interview was kind of divine revelation. It’s also fittingly consistent with his penchant for genuine R&B where storytelling, infectious grooves and intimate vibes are the staples. Needless to say, engaging accomplished voices are a must as well and Frazier comes well equipped with that too. He’s also enlisted a few more by way of features from acclaimed soul-stirrer, Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter, Eric Roberson (“Gone Gyrl”) and talented, burgeoning vocalist Toni LaNiece (“Girl with the Broken Wing”). Check out my interview with Alvin Frazier to find out how the concept for RIVER was born, how the title track almost didn’t make the project and how an impromptu playing of “Gone Gyrl” during a car ride for an audience including acclaimed artist Robert Glasper led to it’s place on RIVER.

RIVER is available now to check out and purchase at alvinfraziermusic.com as well as all other major music outlets.

*If you like what you hear purchasing music from independent artists is the best way to support. Thank you! – I SPY SOUL

Watch Closely: Keyboardist and producer, Daniel Crawford

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Most great artists have a “signature” something – a feel, a look, a flow, a sound- a special thing you sometimes can’t describe, but almost always recognize. Sometimes it’s just a “gift” they’ve been blessed with, but often in concert with that “gift” the signature has been developed through committed practice and time honed experience. Examples of this are all over the artistic landscape – throughout all its disciplines.

In the role of music producer, particularly in R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop over the years, that “signature” sound has become one of the most sought after commodities in the music game. Think Kashif, Teddy Riley, Babyface, Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, Raphael Saadiq, Pharrell/Neptunes or J Dilla to name only a few. Daniel Crawford, a fast rising and crazy talented producer, songwriter and keyboard extraordinaire, is one of those with that special quality that has his name on it – always a splendid concoction of infectious grooves, funkiness, lush climatic arrangements, infused with the sounds of his musical influences including Soul, Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hip – beautifully and dexterously crafted.

Like the aforementioned producers, his palette is eclectic – his experience vast and ability, is off the charts. But there is also one other key element Crawford shares with those elite as well as others he grew up listening to and admires today – musicality. “No matter what type of vibe that you’re going for or what kind of genre that it might be, the musicality of it is the thing that has always caught my attention. Even from being a kid and hearing certain things and not even fully understanding what it was catching me,” says Crawford. “But then the older I got and listening back, the common thing is just the musicality of it.”

It’s undoubtedly what many have heard from the LA native in the mixtape and remix jewels he’s dropped over the years including his fantastic J Dilla tribute series as well as in the few full-length projects imagehe’s released, Red Pill and The Awakening. Amongst those many captured enthusiasts are the artists and musicians who are increasingly tapping Crawford for use of his obvious talent and sound. Artists like Amp Fiddler, Aloe Blacc, Vikter Duplaix, Osunlade, Raphael Saadiq, and many more. He even had an opportunity to work with the imagelegendary Maurice White, architect of one of the greatest bands in the history of music, Earth, Wind and Fire. “That was a surreal thing as far as being able to pick his brain about the way they use to record stuff and what were some of their influences. That was one pretty surreal moment,” says Crawford

That list also includes acclaimed, and uber-talented, singer/songwriter, Eric Roberson who’s beautiful, just released EP, EARTH, showcases Crawford on production duty. Crawford also supplied one of the many standout tracks, “Something” on the duet record Tigallerro from Roberson and A-list rapper/singer imageof both hip-hop clique, Little Brother and eclectic soul group, The Foreign Exchange, Phonte. And then there is his work with the highly venerated producer and turntable whiz DJ Jazzy Jeff who enlisted him to be amongst a hand-picked squad of top-notch musicians, producers, and vocalists (including Roberson) brought together as the PLAYlist collective to create the phenomenal project, Chasing Goosebumps that was unbelievably produced in a week. “That experience was life changing,” says Crawford of the project. “And this is something I can very often imagesay whenever I do something that Jeff puts together or is involved with. It’s crazy. We were there, but also, it was sort of like an out of body experience type of thing. Because once everything’s was actually done, and the album was streamed on [Jazzy Jeff’s Facebook] page, and we started listening and we saw the pictures, that’s when everything just started to sink in. Like wow! We really just did this!” He then humbly admits, “Even now when I listen to the album, and I’ve spoken to others involved with the project, you listen to album and its almost as if you didn’t have anything to do with it. Like completely being able to listen to it as a fan, that didn’t even help create it. Because of just how everything happened. It was like a spiritual moment, man!”

Crawford has been doing this for a minute, professionally since thirteen in fact. His father, himself a multi-instrumentalist who played professionally with a Gospel group for years and even now plays in a band the younger Crawford has had for twenty years called the Wylde Bunch, was certainly a major influence. Between Crawford listening to his dad play, having a spot designated as the “music room” in the house that was filled with instruments at he and his siblings disposal, and the vast soundtrack of artists being played throughout Crawford’s young years, he was bound to at very least adopt an appreciation for music. But it was recognized quite early that he had possessed more than an appreciation – He had a natural born gift.

“I started playing when I was around five or six years old and I played by ear starting out,” recalls Crawford. That realization came when on what he fondly remembers was a blue and yellow Fisher Price keyboard he received for Christmas, he worked out the parts of a song his father wrote that was played at church for the children’s choir to march in on. “One morning I was in the [music room], I was sitting Indian- style and I had the keyboard on my lap. So then I started figuring out how to play the song by myself. My parents got up and started saying, who’s that in there playing? And then they walk in and I’m in there on the ground, playing the song.”

From that point on his talent was obvious, so much so that he recalls when just in elementary school the music teacher saw enough in him to not only hone that talent and furnish him with great encouragement, but to also make quite a prophetic statement. “His name was Mr. Marshall and he said, ‘You need to take care of your hands because your hands are how you’re going to make your money.’” That predication was indeed something he could literally take to the bank.

Even though Crawford is firmly in place as a sought after producer, songwriter and musician he is savvy enough to know that growth and development is ongoing. It’s in part what’s key to solidifying that signature sound. Other things that are key to that continued growth? “Being surrounded by like-minded individuals that you can learn from and keep you humble,” he declares. “Also, everything that I do whether it’s playing or producing, I base everything on feel. Feel is the most important thing for me because it has to feel good. And if it doesn’t feel good, then we’re not doing it right or I’m not doing it right.”

Needless to say, he is indeed doing everything right.

Bert Caldwell

 

 

Look out for a new project from Daniel Crawford coming soon, but in the meantime go here to check out his popular remixes, mix tapes and projects.

Video Interview: Singer/Songwriter Eric Roberson

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A look now at the talented singer/songwriter Eric Roberson in the new video feature below:

And our first look from the original monthly feature, WATCH CLOSELY 2003

ERIC ROBERSON Making music, honestly

For most aspiring music artists their earliest dreams featured them on stage or screen, front and center, whipping hordes of entranced fans into a frenzy – signing a major label deal, selling millions of records and in the process sealing their rep as a talented artist who will forever be noted in the annals of music history. For a scant few, likened to the odds of winning the lottery, that actually happens. But for the lion’s share the realities of the business usher a rude awakening and dashed hopes. However, there are those who guided by their passion to create, an undeniable gift, tenacity and faith, maneuver the harsh realities and find success by other means. Take, for example, singer/songwriter Eric Roberson.

The New Jersey native, who caught the music vapors as a kid growing up in an artistic household, has weathered the storied blows and bombshells of the industry to become one of its brightest young songwriters. In fact, Roberson’s work can be found on the successful projects of folks like Musiq Soulchild, Vivian Green, Jill Scott, Dwele, Case and Will Downing as well as on tracks from the upcoming releases of 112, Carl Thomas and Glen Lewis. Pretty good for someone who was admittedly pursuing the “artist” route, but a natural fit for someone who has always had the writing “bug.”

“Songwriting was always a craft that I was in love with and just always addicted to,” says Roberson. “I never really thought that I would have a career in songwriting. I thought I would have a career as an artist. When the artist thing didn’t work out, it was really ericwhat just kept me available.” But he quickly adds, “At one point, there was a time when I was just very jaded in the business and didn’t want to be an artist, as crazy as that sounds. I said, I just wanted to be a songwriter because I didn’t want to be bothered with the ups and downs emotionally that go with pursuing an artist deal.”

Indeed Roberson, who in addition to holding solid writing prowess owns a beautiful voice to boot, knows that seesaw ride first hand. After two years at Howard University on a scholarship reaped as grand prizewinner of a teen talent competition, Warner Bros. Records tabbed him for a recording deal that started the ball rolling with a single called “The Moon” that hit #33 on Billboard’s R&B charts. But soon after, an all to familiar changing of the guard took place that eventually pulled the “rug” right from beneath him. That experience and others like it steered the keen Roberson back to the fertile grounds of Howard U. “I went back to school and just honed my skills,” says Roberson. “I became a better person in every facet. Became a better student, a better writer, a better singer, a better everything.”

From that point to now his phone has kept ringing and his talent, opening doors. One ofimage those opened doors, a background stint with vocalist Kenny Lattimore, led to another opportunity that ultimately brought him to the now famous fold out of Philly, A Touch of Jazz. The link to the sought after production entity brewed by DJ ace Jazzy Jeff that is credited, in part, with putting the storied music town back on the map, proved to be epoch-making for Roberson. “It was the music I had in my head,” he says of his first encounter with the music of the crew. “It was the music that I felt.” Needless to say it was a match made in heaven that helped to solidify his songwriting status. However, there was still a jones that wouldn’t go away – A passion to perform and record his words for the world to hear.

imageThe boiling point resulted in an outstanding independent debut release in 2001 called The Esoteric Movement that still, although a hard found commodity (something he vows will soon be rectified), is a hotly sought after underground soul gem. In fact, the rave reviews and love trumpeted for that release demanded this year’s follow-up, Eric Roberson presents The Vault Vol.1. This splendid collection with a hybrid sound of soul and R&B features one of the most stunning voices on the scene eloquently riding vibes that move from amorous to hip and sensual to smoothed out. Add to that solid production from amongst others, Roberson, Osunlade, James Poyser, and Vidal Davis as well as on the track, “One Time”, the vocal artistry of Ms. Jill Scott. Throughout, The Vault, Roberson spews poetic prose with a golden voice and sincere delivery that’s in a word, impressive.

It’s clear after listening to his work why the fire to do the “artist” thing can’t be extinguished. As Roberson puts it, “Songwriting is my nine to five, but I put my records out because of the passion I have as an artist,” and emphatically adds, “to maintain my sanity!” A sanity he explains can be lost when dealing with all the kinks of the music business. Which is why at this point, although the songwriting gig serves him well, making music under his own moniker is becoming a renewed priority.

“I write honest music and there are times when I get tired of giving away my story and all the stuff I really, really feel in my heart and not see it being taken care of. I almost feel like driving down the street, just throwing CDs out the window saying ‘anybody want to hear this? If you can appreciate it, here!’”

Judging by the enthusiastic response to both The Esoteric Movement and The Vault Vol.1 he’s finding a burgeoning crowd of listeners who can and are quite willing to pay for it. Honest!

BertCaldwell