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Omar Live with Taylor McFerrin at Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, June 2, 2012

One of our all time favorite artists and one of the most underrated of all time, Omar, will be making his way across the pond to bring his extremely solid soul sound to Brooklynites and anyone who can make the trip. Omar’s distinctive brand of UK soul has made him a regular at venues throughout the Globe since his debut nearly 20 years ago. Omar is joined by music renaissance man, Taylor McFerrin (son of jazz vocal legend Bobby McFerrin). This event is sure to be packed so arrive early. Kudos to Shawn Peters (from Weeksville) and our boys in the band.  We look forward to the usual festivities soon.

Headliner: Omar
Supporting Act: Taylor McFerrin
Cost: $FREE.99 (NO CHARGE)
Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012
Time: Doors Open at 2pm
Location:
Weeksville Heritage Center
1698 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213 Directions
Phone: (718) 756-5250

Description From Weeksville’s site:

Brilliant Corners
Jazz Concert

with

Omar
England’s Nu-Soul legend was the major influence for the America’s Neo Soul movement of the late 90’s. Notable artists such as D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and Jill Scott all claim Omar as a major influence. His distinct bass laden melodies make his groove unmistakably OMAR and undeniable.

OMAR is supported by:
teddycrockett – guitar
Eric Brown – drums
Raymond Angry – keys
Vivian Sessoms – backing vocals
BJ Moore – backing vocals
Mike Griot – basses/Musical Director

Taylor McFerrin
Taylor McFerrin has sustained an major buzz in the Future Soul scene ever since his 2007 EP “Broken Vibes” gained heavy rotation by DJ’s such as Benji B, Gilles Peterson and Garth Trinidad. His musical style is equally influenced by the legends of 60′s / 70′s soul and the kings of the Modern Beat Generation. Taylor’s first full length LP, titled “Early Riser” is due out on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder Record Label, Fall 2012.

Omar Bio from AllMusic.com:

Designated by many as the father of British neo-soul (though his impact extends over to U.S. shores as well), singer/songwriter/producer Omar began as one of the U.K.’s most promising R&B hopefuls with his early-’90s international hit “There’s Nothing Like This.” However, unintentionally avoiding pop stardom, he chose never to compromise his artistic credibility; and because of that, people like India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Gilles Peterson, and his biggest idol, Stevie Wonder, have all endorsed him as personal fans (with the prior three naming him as an influence). Although he gets thrown into the R&B category, Omar has no real definitive boundaries. In interesting new ways with each album, he has molded soul and urban music to fit his wide variety of influences, including ragga, hip-hop, funk, jazz-pop, rock, and Latin/Caribbean dance. Despite the lack of chart success, his original techniques have garnered him a strong legion of followers in the U.K. and a devoted fan base in diverse regions across the world.

Born October 14, 1968, in London but raised in Canterbury, Omar Lye-Fook couldn’t escape the call to music even he tried. His father, Byron Lye-Fook, was a studio musician and drummer who had done work for reggae greats Bob Marley and Horace Andy as well as the Rolling Stones. At age five, Omar was already learning how to play the drums. During his grade school years, he completed formal training in piano, trumpet/coronet, and other percussion instruments, but he also taught himself to play the bass, emulating Level 42 guitarist Mark King. As a part of various brass, jazz, and percussion ensembles, the young prodigy had performed in Italy, Brazil, and the U.S. before turning 15 years old. By the time he was a student at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music in London, he was too tempted in pursuing a professional career and left after one year. Recording for his father’s Kongo label, Omar debuted in 1985 with the single “Mr. Postman” at age 16. With Kongo following up with a series of buzz-worthy white labels throughout the late ’80s, Omar’s favorable reception continued to grow because of his classic yet updated soul approach, which was years before neo-soul became an acknowledged subgenre.

“There’s Nothing Like This” first broke out in 1990. It peaked in the U.K.’s Top 20 the following year and remained on top of the R&B and dance charts for several weeks. This was at a time when acid jazz and house were the dominant urban forms in Britain. The soulful ballad got Omar signed to pioneering disc jockey Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud imprint. He recorded the albums There’s Nothing Like This (1990), which was compiled from his earlier Kongo recordings, and Music (1992), a more mature outing, both in terms as a musician and a singer. (On some of these earlier recordings, he is credited as Omar Hammer, deriving from his stepfather’s last name.) For his following two albums, For Pleasure (1994) and This Is Not a Love Song (1997), he moved on to major label RCA. The former had him in the studio with ex-Motown songwriters and producers Leon Ware and Lamont Dozier, who were both fans of his music. But on the latter album, RCA keyboardist/producer David Frank (Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera) took the reins of the album’s direction. Full Bio.

Taylor McFerrin Biography from Wikipedia.com:

Taylor McFerrin is an American DJ, Producer, Keyboardist, Beatboxer, and Vocalist signed to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. Son of popular musician Bobby McFerrin, Taylor falls into a very unique and cutting edge genre of Hip Hop known as Future Soul characterized by electronic ambient textures, highly processed and often progressive drum samples/beats including elements of dubstep and post-dubstep, 60′s soul and jazz, and a structure heavily based on improvisation, all gelled together with a strong Hip-Hop feel. Since the 2006 release of his debut EP, Broken Vibes, McFerrin has been gaining quite a following/buzz and has exceeded audience’s expectations all over New York City and Internationally with his genre-defying solo-act, seamlessly building beats from scratch with a heavy reliance on part looping. McFerrin currently resides in Brooklyn, NY continuing to tour and work on his highly anticipated up and coming debut solo album Early Riser. Full Bio.

For those that are not up on the incredible music that is about to come to Brooklyn, please check out some of our favorite Omar songs:

Omar – There’s Nothing Like This

Omar – Golden Brown

Omar – Syleste

Omar – Feelin You featuring Stevie Wonder