The
Jazzyfatnastees, Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez,
began as a quartet, signing to Tommy Boy Records in November
1993. "At that time we sang forties style harmonies
over jazz loops and break-beats. We wanted to have three-part
harmony plus a lead vocal. Basically we wanted to be able
to do anything we did on record live and in person,"
explains Mercedes. Her brother J. Swift (producer of hip-hop
group the Pharcyde's first album "Bizzare Ride to the
Pharcyde") helped pen their name. " The Jazzy
lyrics, the fat harmonies, and the nastee tracks, it's all
about the music," says Tracey. In that spirit, the
Jazzees have also collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Michelle
N'degeocello, Outkast, De La Soul, Blackilicious and Eric
Benet. In 1995, shortly after the Tommy Boy deal dissolved,
they met hip-hop legends The Roots. After doing a series
of opening spots with the band in LA, they were invited
to do some guest vocals on The Roots! ' album "illadelphhalflife."
Seduced by the creative energy of the city and inspired
by their warm welcome into The Roots' musical family, the
Jazzyfatnastees decided to make Philadelphia their home.
By
1998 two of the original members had gone their separate
ways, the two remaining members, Tracey and Mercedes, unexpectedly
found that they were now a duo. That same year the Jazzees
signed to Motive Records, The Roots' imprint on MCA. They
wrote and co-produced their debut album "The Once and
Future," in conjunction with The Roots, manager/producer
Richard Nichols, and Scott Storch, long time Roots collaborator
and current producer for Dr. Dre, Christina Aguilera, Mobb
Deep, Jay Z and others. The album, released in the fall
of 1999, was well received and favorably critiqued by publications
such as Time Magazine, The Source, Jane Magazine, USA Today
and The Philadelphia Inquirer among others. Unfortunately
the album preceded the advent of the "neo-soul"
movement and MCA was unsure how to market a group that did
not readily fit the then limited confines of popular black
music.
Fearing
that their music would get lost in the "commercial"
sauce, the Jazzyfatnastees took it upon themselves to create
a forum in which they and other women artists that fall
into the left-of-center, urban alternative categories could
promote and develop their material on a regular basis. Black
Lily, " A Women in Music Series" was born. Started
at The Wetlands in New York's Village in April of 1999 and
now in it's third year at The Five Spot in Philadelphia,
the acclaimed series has featured performances by several
of today's most celebrated artists. Alicia Keys, Jill Scott,
Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Bilal, Musiq, Aaries, Floetry, Nona
Hendryx, Toshi Reagon, Jaguar Wright, Kindred, Jazmine Sullivan,
Glenn Lewis, Julie Dexter, Common, Mos Def and, of course,
The Roots are among the many artists that have graced the
Lily stage.
Now
signed to independent, Coolhunter/Ryko Distribution, the
Jazzyfatnastees are poised to release their sophomore album
"The Tortoise and the Hare," in September 2002.
The album reflects the duo's various influences (pop, soul,
rock, jazz, Latin music, etc.) and their complimentary yet
very different vocal styles, once again limited to ten unique
tracks, the goal being an album that's short and sweet,
worth listening to from beginning to end. "We see our
present label as much better suited to our artistic vision.
The musical landscape has also widened and become much more
diverse since our first album dropped in 1999. We're excited
to see how this album is received and looking forward to
continuing to develop our sound and Black Lily into the
future," says Mercedes. Remaining true to themselves
and getting comfortable in their own skin is the philosophy
behind the album's title. With "The Tortoise and the
Hare," it's likely that listeners! will agree that
the Jazzyfatnastees have accomplished both.
Courtesy
of
www.jassyfatnastee.com
Photos by Julie
Gueasseve
|
