The guitarist and member of Tortoise discusses how his landmark solo album 'The New Breed' merged jazz improvisation with hip hop production, marking his transition from collaborative work to solo artistry.
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Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist, composer, and producer Jeff Parker.
For nearly three decades, Jeff has balanced solo work with his role in the post-rock band Tortoise. His 2016 album The New Breed takes hip-hop beats and puts them in the hands of live musicians. Named after his late father's clothing store, the album just got the deluxe reissue treatment from International Anthem.
He's here to discuss how moving to Los Angeles shaped his sound, why making "identifiably human-made music" matters more than ever, and what it's like transitioning from being the youngest musician in the room to becoming a mentor.
If you enjoy this episode, check out our discussions with Josh Johnson, Gordon Grdina, or Daniel Ögren. All are available on https://spotlightonpodcast.com.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Jeff Parker’s album The New Breed)
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[00:01:15] - Reflecting on 'The New Breed' reissue and solo artistic development
[00:03:16] - Working with producer Paul Bryan and sonic aesthetics
[00:04:57] - How place and community influence musical creation
[00:07:19] - The LA beat scene and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson collaboration
[00:07:52] - The skeleton of 'The New Breed': beats, samples, and composition
[00:11:15] - Learning production techniques and expanding compositional palette
[00:12:57] - Contributing to musical lineage vs. regurgitation
[00:14:01] - The album title's connection to his father's legacy
[00:17:07] - Analog aesthetics and timeless production choices
[00:17:49] - Solo creativity vs. collaborative music making
[00:21:50] - Returning to collaboration after solo work
[00:22:55] - Tortoise's forward-looking approach to their catalog
[00:25:40] - Mentorship, AACM influence, and becoming the elder musician
[00:28:20] - Showing younger musicians multiple career paths
[00:31:48] - Musical heroes who defied categorization
[00:32:28] - Chicago's unique musical ecosystem and infrastructure
[00:34:31] - Looking forward: expanding 'The New Breed' concept
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Visit Jeff Parker at https://jeffparkersounds.com
Purchase 'The New Breed (IA11 Edition)' from International Anthem → https://www.intlanthem.com/jeff-parker-the-new-breed-ia11-edition
Bandcamp → https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-breed-ia11-edition
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/the-new-breed-jeff-parker/rqbh839t1ecla
and listen on your streaming platform of choice
For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com
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