The accomplished arranger reinvents himself as a leading artist on “Africa Nouveau.”
Having arranged songs by R&B legends including Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Bill Withers, Rene & Angela, Bobby Womack, and Confunkshun, flutist David Crawford has begun arranging his own musical legacy with the release of “Africa Nouveau,” the newly released single that he wrote, produced, and performed, which is available now on all digital platforms.
For inspiration, Crawford turned to two sources: Africa and Michelle Obama. First, he decided to give the track an African motif using traditional African melodies and musical nuances on his contemporary jazz instrumental. Then, Crawford contemplated the message he wanted to convey. Based on everything that is happening in the US and globally, he decided that people are again in dire need of hope and he turned to Obama. While President Barack Obama ran on a platform of hope, the First Lady’s rousing speech at last year’s Democratic Convention is excerpted as a mid-tune soundbite: “All our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued.”
“I wanted to record a song that would be encouraging, empowering, and be a hopeful endeavor for the world at large. Africa, being my ancestral beginnings, was my first inspiration for a new world order,” said Crawford, a Compton, California native who now resides in Las Vegas.
With Crawford’s warm and comforting flute confidently guiding the jazzy excursion through African plains, Crawford brought in trumpeter Nolan Shaheed to provide a strong sonic contrast. Shaheed has played with Miles Davis, Buddy Collette, Barbara Morrison, and Earth, Wind & Fire, and on “Africa Nouveau,” he adds masterful muted trumpet that at times leads and at other times intertwines organically with Crawford’s fanciful flute.
“Nolan (Shaheed) is an incredible jazz performer and studio musician. He once was Marvin Gaye’s musical director and is a longtime colleague of mine. Adding his unique instrumental voice to ‘Africa Nouveau’ brings a lot of depth and color to the track,” said Crawford who earned his master’s degree in music at California Institute of the Arts.
In addition to his work as an arranger, Crawford is a composer and producer. He produced Vesta Williams’ Billboard R&B top ten single “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” along with multiple tracks by R&B group Woods Empire. Keeping the company of icons, Crawford recorded with Ahmad Jamal and The Temptations and played with Stevie Wonder and Isaac Hayes. In orchestral settings, Crawford has performed with the Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra, Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, and the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra.
Crawford plans to drop additional singles before releasing his first album, “Something Borrowed, Something New.”
For more information, visit http://screenmusicforme.com and https://www.facebook.com/dcflauta.
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