Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – Magnolia
When I use the word ‘multi-talented’ to describe my friend and colleague Miguel Atwood-Ferguson I use it literally. In addition to being the composer and entire ensemble here Miguel is also the musical mind behind Suite for Ma Dukes, a set of orchestral reimaginings of music by hip hop icon J Dilla which the WCFSO performed last February. Learn more about Miguel and his philosophy here. [Stellar video work courtesy The Qualities of Light.]
Last month I participated in a unique presentation of Suite for Ma Dukes, Miguel-Agtwood Ferguson’s amazing orchestral reinventions of music by J Dilla. Today the piece’s original 2009 performance is released on DVD along with two other concerts featuring Brazilian legend Arthur Verocai and Ethiopian jazz great Mulatu Astatke. The Timeless shows were organized and filmed by LA-based Mochilla, with the goal of building bridges between influential composer/arrangers and the contemporary musicians who employ and build on their work.
Timeless posters by Teebs
The crew at Mochilla recently sent along a set of Timeless promos and I’ve been totally immersed in them since. A few initial responses, particularly to Miguel’s peerless arrangements of J Dilla:
- Very few orchestral arrangements are as good as these, and I perform lots of orchestral arrangements.
- I really appreciate the way these super-skilled orchestral musicians are so engaged with [and visibly into] what they’re playing.
- Suite for Ma Dukes is further proof of the importance of Dilla’s contribution to hip hop and contemporary music in general.
Have a listen to Jealousy as performed by the Ma Dukes orchestra with Karriem Riggins on set: [mp3]
So that you can get a better sense for Miguel’s achievement in the transformation of musical material, here is Dilla’s original from Fantastic Vol. 2: [mp3]
To see some of the video check out Mochilla’s collection of previews from Timeless. And do not sleep on picking up this unique and outstanding box set – the current release is limited to just 4000 numbered copies.
That’s what blues, jazz, hip hop and orchestral music do this weekend in Iowa.
Interview with Hollis Monroe – mp3
Iowa Public Radio – February 2010
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is a multi-talented instrumentalist and composer from Los Angeles and the man responsible for Suite for Ma Dukes, the orchestral arrangements of J Dilla’s music we’ll be performing this weekend at the WCFSO. Did I mention he tears it up on the viola, too?
This is Miguel’s own arrangement for the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble of Rene Costy’s Scrabble, a tune that was sampled by Dilla. The video is by Mochilla, about whom I’ve posted here before. B+ and Coleman of Mochilla will be in Iowa this weekend to document our performances of Miguel’s Dilla arrangements; more on that soon.
Here is my earlier post about Suite for Ma Dukes, with links to information about the studio recordings and a history of the project along with my own mix of Nag Champa.
J Dilla [James Yancey, 1974-2006] was and remains one of the most important voices in independent hip hop. Earlier this month, just days before the third anniversary of his death from a rare blood disease, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino released four orchestral arrangements of his music under the title Suite for Ma Dukes. Read more about the project at Stones Throw. [Image by Grace Oh]
I hope to have a chance to perform Dilla’s music sometime soon. In the meantime here’s my own mix of Nag Champa, bringing together Atwood-Ferguson’s studio orchestra version and the chorus from the original track.
J Dilla – Nag Champa Orchestral Mix – Download
from Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & Carlos Nino – Suite for Ma Dukes & Common – Like Water For Chocolate
More at my tumblr and here.
Update: Made it happen – Dilla with symphony orchestra!
