The Portable-Infinite: DINNER PARTY ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM OUT JULY 10th; LISTEN TO "FREEZE TAG" FEATURING PHOELIX NOW

6/25/2020

DINNER PARTY ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM OUT JULY 10th; LISTEN TO "FREEZE TAG" FEATURING PHOELIX NOW

TERRACE MARTIN, ROBERT GLASPER,

KAMASI WASHINGTON & 9TH WONDER

ANNOUNCE NEW GROUP DINNER PARTY

LISTEN TO "FREEZE TAG" FEAT. PHOELIX & WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO

SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM OUT JULY 10TH

ON SOUNDS OF CRENSHAW / EMPIRE

CREDIT: Amani Washington

What is Dinner Party? As the name lends, Dinner Party is authentic connection and camaraderie. Dinner Party is years of friendship, shows, dinners, conversations, laughs and life experience, all converging into one moment. Dinner Party is a metaphor - a group, a project, a spirit, an imprint of time; and also the name of the album. Dinner Party is the musical supergroup of Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington and 9th Wonder and features guest vocals from Phoelix. Dinner Party is the winner's circle; with multiple nominations and awards from the Grammys, Emmys and American Music Prize amongst them. Dinner Party is invite only but it's for everyone. Dinner Party is the legacy of four musicians who have contributed to some of the most important albums and art of the past three decades. Dinner Party is musical evolution in real time, fusing jazz, hip-hop, R&B, funk and soul. Dinner Party is music and art for now. Dinner Party will be released July 10th via Terrace Martin's Sounds of Crenshaw / EMPIRE.

With today's exciting announcement, Dinner Party have shared the first preview of the album with new single," Freeze Tag" featuring Chicago vocalist Phoelix. The silky smooth melody, expert playing and upbeat production are juxtaposed with lyrics about the Black plight against systemic racism and police brutality. Phoelix sings, "They told me put my hands up behind my head/ I think they got the wrong one/ I'm sick and tired of runnin'/ I've been searching where the love went.../ If I move they gonna shoot me dead." As the song speaks to the everyday experience of Black Americans and others around the world, its relevance at the height of the biggest civil rights movement of the 21st century has no limit. The accompanying official video shares footage of the members making the song in the studio -links to watch and listen below.

Dinner Party came together while Martin and Glasper were on the road, touring with Glasper's R+R=NOW, the two originally meeting in 1996 at a jazz band camp. With the idea to meld many of their influences and practices into a new sound, nodding to jazz and soul but ultimately rooted in hip-hop, the idea for the new group was born. Martin called on Washington, a longtime friend that he met in 1992 in a high school jazz band, and seminal beat-maker and producer 9th Wonder to elevate the project musically. With all four as masters of their craft and then some - Martin and Washington on saxophone, Glasper on keys and 9th Wonder doing production, the end result came together as food for the soul. Dinner Party is a family affair - even the cover art was a contribution from Washington's sister, Amani Washington. Almost two years in the making, Martin rented out Chalice studios in Los Angeles at the end of 2019 and the four musicians tirelessly worked on this debut project any chance they got.

Individually, all four have a musical pedigree that demands the accolades they have received. Terrace Martin, a three-time Grammy-nominated artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, featured heavily on Kendrick Lamar's good kid, M.A.A.D. city and To Pimp A Butterfly, along with contributions to recent projects from Travis Scott, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock and more. Saxophonist Kamasi Washington was awarded the American Music Prize and Gilles Peterson Worldwide Album of The Year for his critically acclaimed 2015 LP The Epic. DJ and producer 9th Wonder has worked with some of the most influential artists in music, such as Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Drake, Nipsey Hustle, Anderson .Paak and many more. Lastly, seven-time Grammy-nominated producer and pianist Robert Glasper, who has won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, has been a major force in music for decades, as well as film, including his Grammy win for the soundtrack to Miles Ahead and an Emmy for his contribution to "Letter To The Free" from Ava Duvernay's documentary 13th.

Dinner Party is an expression of joy, fun and laughter without ego - good friends coming together and all bringing different ingredients to the table, necessitating Dinner Party. The debut self-titled studio album will be released worldwide on July 10th via Sounds of Crenshaw / EMPIRE.