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V. Shayne Frederick - BlackLight
Aug 28, 2020
BlackLight is a soon to be released EP from Philadephia-based pianist, vocalist and poet, V. Shayne Frederick. This multi-talented artist began his formal musical study at Dartmouth College, and afterwards with the legendary Philadelphia organist, pianist, composer and vocalist Trudy Pitts. His informal musical study, however, began at birth. V. Shayne was born in North Carolina to musician parents, his mother, a pianist and vocalist, and his father, a saxophonist. As a self-taught pianist and vocalist, his craft has been honed at jam sessions, bandstands, concert halls, and behind pianos at a multitude of venues over the last decade including: Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, World Cafe Live, SugarHouse Casino, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Resorts Casino, Society Hill Playhouse, Johnny Brendas, Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, Ardmore Music Hall, the African-American Museum in Philadelphia, Art Sanctuary, South Jazz Kitchen and many other venues.
Frederick has participated in a number of Philadelphia Jazz Project events including 2015's Love Notes in which he served as the project's music director, Lush Life: Philadelphia Celebrates Billy Strayhorn in 2014, The Philadelphia Songbook Concert Vol.2 in 2015, as well as The Great Migration: First Friday Rent Party Series in 2016 and more. Positioned as one of the premiere jazz vocalists of Philadelphia, V. Shayne Frederick has a melodic classic sound with a contemporary and creative personal touch that is inspired by the work of Nat King Cole, Red Garland, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter, Sly Stone and Prince.
V. Shayne Frederick has recorded and released three CD projects in 2019: Lovesome, Gleaming and Evergreen. With the upcoming release of this new, BLACKLIGHT EP, PJP asked Frederick to share his thoughts about the project and his music.
PJP: Can you briefly describe your musical direction?
V. Shayne Frederick: BLACKLIGHT is an integration of futuristic sonic textures, improvisational groove, and nostalgic sensitivities. The joy of the project is each apex that occurs during the unplanned musical moments.
PJP: What and whom are pivotal musical influences on your creative approach?
V. Shayne Frederick: Outside of the musicians involved in this recording, my influence was simply the possibilities created by space within the music. I never listen to other recordings to determine what’s possible improvisationally for a composition. After the arranger provides the texture I envision, or after the ensemble gets the groove together, that’s when I step in. I much prefer to create moment by moment.
PJP: Tell us about your most recent CD project??
V. Shayne Frederick: BLACKLIGHT is basically a discourse on dreamstates, illusions, possibilities, and the specter of liberation. What started as just a title became a project later during quarantine. This project is a solitudinous, feverdream—for lovers, and those envisioning new worlds.
PJP: Who performs on this project with you?
V. Shayne Frederick: I invited Adam Faulk, Nimrod Speaks, and Khary Abdul-Shaheed to appear on two tracks—one of which was recorded in 2019. Both of these tunes were improvisational grooves created in the studio by those gentlemen. Mollie Ducoste makes an appearance on violin for one of the two songs and also in the first half of “Dream” which was arranged by Gabe Miller for the Bismuth Quartet. The second half of “Dream,” arranged by me, involved Dariel Peniazek, Justin Sekelewski and Shaheed, with Mervin Toussaint on flute. Saxophonist Nzinga Banks had long left the East Coast, but I love to reach out and have her add touches on my projects; this time she shared her EWI with me. “Always,“ the interlude, once was an instrumental track by my friend, the DJ Quiet Chaos, and my new collaborator and brother Kareem Idris raps a brief verse on it.
PJP: When listening to your music what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
V. Shayne Frederick: This EP flows like a narrative. It has its own mouth.
PJP: If folks want to find out more about your CD, or to purchase it, how might they do that?
V. Shayne Frederick: BLACKLIGHT is available digitally September 2nd, 2020 on all major outlets.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?
V. Shayne Frederick: This project is a composite of various types of musicality and “genres.” In doing “Jazz,” you can involve many types of music and still use the vocabulary and improvisational spirit of what we like to call “Jazz.”
*V. Shayne Frederick's - BlackLight available digitally online starting on September 2nd, 2020.
You can keep up with V. Shayne Frederick's creative activities by checking him out on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER or via his WEBSITE.
In addition, check out V. Shayne Frederick's work on two, FREE Philadelphia Jazz Project Mixtapes Here: The Remedy Project Mixtapes & V. Shayne Frederick At Phila City Institute
Check Out V. Shayne Frederick In Action In these Videos:
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This mixtape is a production of The Philadelphia Jazz Project, which is a sponsored project of the CultureWorks | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.
