The Decoders Vol 1

The Decoders is a new band from Los Angeles featuring young producer and multi-instrumentalist Itai Shapira, ubiquitous trumpeter Todd Simon, Quincy McCrary on keys and The Lions' drummer Blake Collie. From December last year to June this year they've been releasing reggae-soul and lovers rock covers singles of famous or forgotten standards like Minnie Riperton's Les Fleurs, Earth, Wind And Fire's That's The way Of The World or Ruby & The Romantics' Hey There Lonely Boy. The three Minnie Riperton covers were supervised by Minnie's producer and husband himself, Richard Rudolph. Another legendary name, Leon Ware, joins the young guns to sing one of the songs he co-wrote with Minnie, Baby This love I Have. The result is a new kind of californian cool with talented guest vocalists, immaculate production and arrangements that show evidence of LA's scene's vitality. Vol.2 is already announced with guests like Noelle Scaggs, Raul Midon and more...

The Decoders Vol 1
The Decoders - Vol. 1
(Digital EP) self-released, early 2012

EP Vol 1 by The Decoders

Tracklisting :
01. Hey There Lonely Boy feat. Coco Owino 3.26
02. Inside My Love feat. Sy Smith 4.15
03. Baby This Love I Have feat. Leon Ware 3.55
04. Les Fleurs feat. Boston Fielder 3.54
05. That's The Way Of The World feat. Kevin Sandbloom 4.17
06. Reasons feat. Love-Logiq 4.14

01 Ruby & The Romantics cover
02, 03, 04 Minnie Riperton covers
05, 06 Earth, Wind & Fire covers

Notes : Vol. 1 is a series of singles released online from December 2011-June 2012. This is the Decoders debut release. It features guest vocalists Leon Ware, Sy Smith and Coco Owino (of Quadron), among others. Vol. 2, also a series of singles to be released on a monthly basis, will debut October 16th, 2012 with "Walk On By" featuring Noelle Scaggs of Fitz & The Tantrums.

Links :
The Decoders : official | bandcamp | facebook | soundcloud | twitter | youtube



Press Release :
The 1st chapter of an ongoing series, “The Decoders: Volume 1″ is the 1st EP of a series that will explore classic ’60s/’70s soul music reinterpreted in a roots reggae, hip hop, latin or some (hopefully) refreshing production that may give these favorite songs of mine a new life. Like the group’s namesake, it is a decoding, if you will, of the magic that spawned these gems that I’ve always cherished in my music collection growing up.

With an inspiring team of my peer musicians who I consider to be the cream-of-the-crop LA session players (in their own right), I embarked on the great adventure of tackling songs like Minnie Riperton’s
“Les Fleurs”, Earth Wind & Fire’s “That’s The Way Of The World”, and many other classics from the vaults of the music sales publishing catalog.

The project is overseen by the songwriter and producer behind many of Minnie’s hits, and he also happens to be the widowed husband of the late Great Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph.

Todd Simon, needing no introduction if you’ve heard the name Macy Gray, Sharon Jones & Dap-Kings or Antibalas, is holding down the duties on the trumpet (his main instrument) and many other brass instruments from his staggering horn collection, including flugelhorn, french horn and euphonium. Todd is also a key player in getting so many of these incredible vocalists on the project.

Quincy McCrary (currently on tour with Mayer Hawthorne of Stones Throw), a keyboardist of rare stature, is the contributing member for all things keys. Hammond B3, rhodes, piano, Moog, Clavinet…you name it, he’s on it. Does a little sangin’ too!

Blake Colie, another label mate of Stones Throw with his revivalist reggae group The Lions, signed on as the drummer for the project. His reggae pocket is uncanny, and he’s a great hang in the studio! One of the best session drummers I know…

Miguel Atwood Ferguson (Suite For Ma Dukes) will make an appearance on “Les Fleurs” with his viola. It’s always an honor to make music with such a talented and focused musician like Miguel. As for the vocalists on the project: we have the unsung hero of blue-eyed soul Kevin Sandbloom, Sy Smith aka “Minnie reincarnated”, Boston Fielder of Muthawit fame and many others I cannot mention just yet…

Coco Owino (also known as Coco from the Danish duo, Quadron, also featuring Robin Hannibal) is holding down vocal duties on our first single, “Hey There Lonely Boy” (originally recorded by Ruby & The Romantics in 1963).

Original post on Paris DJs