Sat, 11/09/2019 - 12:23 pm

Guitar virtuoso Aaron Lebos is at it again with his latest release 141 Layers of Ikigai.   The album was composed and recorded over the last year.  The recording realizes Aaron’s signature funk-progressive-rock sound, highlighting some of Miami’s finest musicians and complimenting his unique style of guitar playing.

Deeply rooted in the South Florida musical landscape, Aaron has been first call for session and performance work for the last two decades because of his versatility and ease in any genre.  All the while he has continued to develop his original music and toured the SE and East coast with his band Aaron Lebos Reality.  141 Layers of Ikigai is his fifth independent release. The album features an outstanding lineup of musicians including Andres Ferret on bass and Armando Lopez on drums.  Other guest appearances come from drummer Dave Chiverton, bassist Eric England, keyboardist Pete Wallace, percussionist Brian Potts, and keyboardist Jason Matthews.

In a recent interview, Aaron reflects on the making of this album. “It required the most perseverance and overall effort to complete because I aimed to take this record to a higher level than any of my previous recordings”.  He spent a good deal of time going back and re-recording different instruments and songs.  He had found more pocket, and stronger drums. He also ventured into including more ambient and progressive keyboard textures. This lead to better guitar tones overall.  Looking back he felt “it was absolutely necessary to restart the recording process and sometimes take a step back to go two steps forward”.

The band has appeared at the Purple Hatters Ball, Virginia Key Grassroots Festival, iii Points Festival, Suwannee’s Hullaween Festival, and has opened for great talent including Mark Lettieri, Tauk, Big Voodoo Daddy, New Master Sounds, Christian Scott, The Mantras, Holly Bowling, Joe Marcinek Band, Marbin, Tim Reynolds and more.

141 Layers of Ikigai was released this September on all digital formats.

Sat, 04/17/2021 - 11:19 am

Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) is proud to release “The Rain May Be Pouring,” its first-ever album of original music to coincide with “Guitars Over Guns Day,” officially designated by Miami-Dade County. GOGO is a non-profit that delivers unique after-school, arts-based youth mentorship programs designed to creatively engage and empower vulnerable youth to take control of their life paths. Available now on all major streaming platforms it features emerging talent and spans genres from spoken word and rap to pop and jazz. The diverse musical styles are representative of the brilliant Miami and Chicago artists that work with students in the cities’ most vulnerable neighborhoods.

Shortly after the pandemic hit, Kent Savage, a supporter and donor of Guitars Over Guns, and President/CEO Dr. Chad Bernstein (CNN Hero 2014) conceived an idea for an album of all original music reflecting the many facets of lockdown – from isolation, loss of jobs and livelihood, loss of people, loss of security, and mental health challenges, to the incidents of social injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement. Featuring music primarily written and performed by BIPOC artists, the album represents the point of view of a demographic disproportionately impacted by COVID.

Dr. Bernstein, a celebrated musician himself, produced the album with a cast of remarkable talent, including GOGO colleagues Andre “Add-2” Daniels and Danny Hayoun. Together, they curated 12 selections from mentors, students, and alumni who submitted pieces created in quarantine for consideration, including:

The album’s title is inspired by 13-year-old GOGO Miami student Leeyahna Lawson’s original song lyrics for “This Is Nothing New,” her first professional recording.

Miami-native singer-songwriter and GOGO vocal mentor Justine Garcia sings her original "Quarantine Song," about life in isolation.

Miami-based multi-genre artist and GOGO music production mentor Starve Marve performs "Company," inspired by his Nigerian roots.

Rising star on Chicago's hip hop scene, F.A.B.L.E., a mentee of GOGO's Haven Studio, performs his original, "Neighborhood."

Miami spoken word artist and GOGO poetry mentor Tif Boom presents her powerful piece, "Heaven’s Footsteps," inspired by Ahmaud Arbery and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Miami singer-songwriter, ¡Suénalo! frontwoman and longest-serving GOGO mentor Mish sings her heartfelt original song, "Homesick."

Young Chicago hip hop artist C.A.M., a Haven Studio mentee, presents his original, "Loud Silence."

Based in Miami, rapper and GOGO mentor Corinne Stevie performs her powerful song "Breathe Through the Pain."

Lyrical G, a Miami-based spoken word artist, GOGO mentor and alumna of GOGO's flagship mentoring program, presents her moving Black Lives Matter-inspired poem, "The Truth Is Trouble."

Miami guitar virtuoso Kenzy Lafrance, alumnus of GOGO's flagship mentoring program, performs his original instrumental, "It's Come to This..."

NYC-based SHENZI frontwoman and former GOGO Miami Programs Manager Desiree Jaha sings her original song, "Hurricane."

South Florida producer, vocalist and songwriter RonDon Keyz presents his original single, "Crazy."

Miami-based Haitian-American artist and GOGO mentor Inez Barlatier performs "Prosper," featuring fellow GOGO mentor Saint James Valsin.

“The Rain May Be Pouring” available April 21st, 2021

Music has a long history of carrying society through challenging times. Most recently, this was demonstrated through the heartwarming impromptu balcony concerts in Italy and Spain. “The Rain May Be Pouring” represents the voices of the youth while providing an outlet for creative expression.

The country is facing very real challenges combating youth violence and academic disengagement in the urban core. Guided by a team of professional musician-mentors, GOGO students gain a positive sense of self, build capacity to redefine and achieve success both personally and academically, and learn how to take accountability for their future.

In addition to the album, Guitars Over Guns documented the making of the project in collaboration with CSP Media Group in Miami and Haven Cinema in Chicago. A documentary by the same title will be submitted to film festivals over the next two years.

Sat, 06/26/2021 - 6:45 pm

Miami-based power quartet Electric Kif release 'Dreamlike'— a single/video from their upcoming LP  Dreamlike, due out August 2nd. The single by features renowned pianist Aaron Parks.

With its syncopated beat, deeply layered synthesizers, and epic form, Dreamlike offers a trippy, multi-dimensional listening experience. Bassist Rodrigo Zambrano and guitarist Eric Escanes kick the track off mixing synthesizers and effects, building up an extended, space-like intro. Drummer Armando Lopez enters full throttle, thundering away in an odd time signature, paving the way for keyboardist Jason Matthews’ otherworldly melody. Interspersing groove sections with airy interludes of synthesizer, the track culminates with Aaron Parks’ mind-bending keyboard solo, backed by the full force of the band.  

Dreamlike offers the journey of Electric Kif’s upcoming LP in microcosm. It captures the band members’ power to transport listeners, their wizardry with synthesizers*, and their unique creative process. “We all have a very fair share in what we play,” explains guitarist Eric Escanes, describing their songwriting. “We all listen to each other’s ideas, and then you’re adding, you’re taking away.” “It’s like sculpture,” adds keyboardist Jason Matthews, finishing Escanes’ thought. “Writing like that is the best, ‘cause you write with your ear and then you figure it out later. I think it’s more honest that way.”

The idea of inviting acclaimed jazz pianist Aaron Parks to solo on Dreamlike occurred organically as the band built the song. Parks had been scheduled to join them for a series of live shows in 2020, which quickly got shuttered once the pandemic set in. As the band recorded the song’s early iterations, it became clear Dreamlike was the perfect opportunity to revive the collaboration. “It really felt to all of us like, ‘this song is so Aaron Parks,’” says drummer Armando Lopez. “He’s the perfect person to take a solo on this.”