From elegant and dreamy compositions to hard knocking funk grooves, Butcher Brown consistently serves listeners an unforgettable dose of originality. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia producer/engineer DJ Harrison, Andrew Randazzo (bass), Morgan Burrs (guitar), Marcus Tenney (horns), Corey Fonville (drums) infuse their music with deep knowledge of the various styles that influence their genre-bending sound. This has earned the attention of both devoted fans and fellow musicians alike – Butcher Brown has been called upon to support great Grammy-winning and nominated artists solo artists including Grammy-winner Nicholas Payton, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, and Dionne Farris.
Sly5thAve is the project of Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II. Shaped by a deep understanding of Soul, Jazz, and HipHop, Sly’s sophisticated compositions have given him the opportunity to play on hit songs by major label artists including Kendrick Lamar, Mark Ronson, and Drake. His current project, ‘The Invisible Man: An Orchestral Tribute to Dr. Dre’ features a 23-piece orchestra and his arrangements of popular songs by legendary producer, Dr. Dre.
The incredibly versatile Saunders Sermons is a two-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter/trombonist who has toured the world with some of the most acclaimed artists in the industry including Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jay-Z, P Diddy, Maxwell, and Roy Hargrove to name a few. His sultry vocal tone coupled with his explosive and agile horn lines prove him to be both a dynamic performer and expressive artist.
Simultaneously futuristic and retro, experimental and classic, Cory Henry is among modern music’s most inventive minds. The two-time Grammy winner and organ virtuoso is well-known for his time with Snarky Puppy and has fully come into his own as a vocalist and bandleader blazing festival stages around the world with his band The Funk Apostles.
Having mastered multiple instruments at a young age, Cory is rising to the top as a solo artist with his first independent release entitled “Art of Love” garnering critical acclaim. The project opened doors to work with Lauryn Hill, Frank Ocean, J. Cole, Vulfpeck and many more. He was also selected by Quincy Jones to headline his curated “Soundtrack of America” series opening of The Shed in NYC.
Kendra Foster is a talent unlike any other. Growing up in Tallahassee FL, Kendra’s mentor Whitney Russell introduced her to Michael Patterson (Mike P), which ultimately led to the creation of the band Fish-and-Grits. Mike P, years later, would also bring Kendra into the P-Funk family. Her love of funk, stage presence, and penchant for writing captivating songs led her on a path to winning two Grammy awards; one for the Best R&B Song for “Really Love” and another for Best R&B Album for her work on “Black Messiah” a long-awaited album from D’Angelo and The Vanguard It is no surprise that Kendra Foster has come so far with her ability to pen songs that capture the full range of human emotions and experiences.
Casey Benjamin, is a genius producer, musician, and artist. A pioneer of his unique brand of Saxophone and Vocoder, Casey has been constantly pushing the limits of music and the very concept of genre itself to new heights. Originally a Jazz saxophonist, he evolved to develop a sound that is wholly unique to him. From sonic contributions to his stylish aesthetic, Casey is in a class of his own. He is an industry veteran, a fact that is clear from a long list of collaborators that range from Betty Carter to Robert Glasper. With three Grammy wins under his belt, Casey has broken the mold and built a new trend which has inspired so many notable artists who are coming up in his wake.
Jake Sherman is keyboardist, Organist, composer, and singer/songwriter with a quirky edge that keeps you on your toes. His musical influences include Scott Joplin, Joey DeFrancesco, and the amazing oddity that is Weird Al Yankovic, to name a few. Jake combines his fun sense of humor with his prodigious talent as a key player to create his unique and equally skillful sound. As an instrumentalist and songwriter, Jake Sherman has garnered critical acclaim and two Grammy wins for his work with Chance the Rapper. He’s also shared the stage with other talented artists like Bilal, Nick Hakim, Lalah Hathaway and many others. With two albums out, Jake Sherman and Jake Sherman Returns, he is an artist to watch.
As a female singer and emcee, Farrah Boulé encompasses both the divine feminine and the rugged masculine energies, while simultaneously weaving a timeless spiritual essence into her craft. It is no wonder that she is the recipient of the Maya Angelou Harlem Renaissance Award for her creative musical contributions and the Underground Music Award for Best Female Artist with her first album “Oval Metal.” Having shared stages with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, Lenny Kravitz, Robert Glasper, Bilal, and countless more, Farrah Boulé has made a name for herself both in her solo career and as a featured artist. Her unique grace and quiet strength add an additional complexity to her performances leaving audiences captivated.
Randy Runyon, Guitarist, singer/songwriter, and frontman for The Karma Exchange is, to put it mildly, a monster musician. With seemingly disparate influences like Radiohead and Claude deBussy, Runyon brings an equally enthralling and insightful style of playing both to the stage and to the studio. The Karma Exchange, his original power trio, follows in the footsteps of those few acts in history with the ability to bring a serious wall of sound with only three members on the bandstand. Capturing some of the best facets of rock music, soul, and songwriting culture, The Karma Exchange never fails to deliver anything short of addictive melodies, low end grit, and some of the most truly powerful lyrics to match.
Raydar Ellis is an iconic DJ, rapper, and producer mainstay of NYC. He has also helped to change the way people view DJ’s, rappers and producers by becoming the first professor of Hip-Hop at the Berklee School of music, ever. As co-founder of Revive Music, it can be said that he has helped push hip-hop and music in general forward in many more ways than simply being a performer. That being said, his own body of work is steadily growing. Much like Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Ellis manages to touch on deeper political and social issues while still remaining lighthearted, relatable and current.
