In the event you had an urgent desire to hear some funky horns over a hip hop beat accented by an amplified tap dancer (yes, you read that right), allow me to introduce you to Sidewalk Chalk.
Hailing from Chicago, IL, USA, these guys are everything wonderful about the meeting place between jazz, funk, hip-hop, and soul. This track, To Love You, comes from their live sophomore release, Leaves (February 2014), a sophomore release that did not disappoint. It is so refreshing to hear the influences of jazz felt in such modern contexts as this, especially from a city with such a storied history in the jazz lineage. There is no pretense felt in this music; Sidewalk Chalk performs with every confidence in their identity. Rico Sisney's poetry and the bands' harmony echo A Tribe Called Quest and are fused with elements of Billie Holiday in Maggie Vagle's vocal contribution.
After you head over to their Soundcloud page to check out all of Leaves, show them some love by purchasing the album on iTunes. I'll admit my own bias as far as Chicago-grown talent goes, but don't miss this opportunity to hear a fantastic group do their thing and do it well.
Mugs, t-shirts,
hoodies, vinyls & more.
