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Jake Najor and The Moment's New LP Out 3/29
By: Tori Hartshorn Mar. 22, 2019
Over the past twenty years, when musicians and producers in Southern California have needed fresh R&B, funk, or hip hop beats, they've called on drummer Jake Najor. A former bandmember of Breakestra, Incredible Moses Leroy, and The Styletones, Najor has performed or recorded with scores of noteworthy artists, including TV on the Radio, Raphael Saadiq, Kelis, Joss Stone, Big Daddy Kane, De La Soul, Karl Denson, Rodriguez and Empire of the Sun.
When not on tour, the San Diego native performs with a wide network of local musicians, including as a member of the house band for The Redwoods Music record label. It's with the Redwoods that the veteran drummer has taken the lead on a new project, Jake Najor and the Moment of Truth. While most of Najor's career has been spent contributing percussion in service to the visions of his collaborators, with his debut record, In the Cut, Najor has been the one enlisting players from his musical cohort to flesh out ten tracks of original grooves, ranging from soulful cinematic instrumentals to hard hitting funk jams.
The album's lead single, "High Costa Living," lands in the latter camp. It features an accomplished roster of west coast funk players, including a potent brass section led by trumpeter/arranger Todd Simon (Antibalas, Ziggy Marley, Quantic), and including James King (Fitz and Tantrums), Elizabeth Lea (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Sam Robles (Jungle Fire), Tim Felten (Sure Fire Soul Ensemble) Nick Costa (Sure Fire Soul Ensemble) Matt LaBarber (Cardinal Moon) behind the gritty vocals of MixMaster Wolf (Breakestra). "High Costa Living" sets the tone for a record loaded with dynamic performances to match the syncopated rhythms laid down by So Cal's go-to beatmaker.
Jake Najor and the Moment of Truth's new LP In The Cut will be released on vinyl, CD, digital and streaming formats on March 29th via The Redwoods Music. Click here to pre-order.
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