Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey announces solo album Love Will Find A Way
- by Adam Bailey
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Philip Bailey, the legendary, Grammy Award winning co-founder of Earth, Wind & Fire announces his upcoming solo album Love Will Find A Way via Verve Records on June 21st and the release of the first single “Billy Jack”, which he co-produced with Robert Glasper.
“Billy Jack” was originally written and performed by Curtis Mayfield – this version is performed by Bailey on vocals and percussion and features Kendrick Scott on drums and Robert Glasper on keys.
On Love Will Find A Way, Bailey proves that the atmosphere and ideas that made Earth Wind & Fire possible are alive and well in 2019. Along with trusted friends like bassist Christian McBride, the iconic jazz pianist Chick Corea and drum legend Steve Gadd, the album features several of the brightest contemporary lights in jazz, R&B and pop, including saxophonist Kamasi Washington, keyboardist Robert Glasper, rapper, musician and producer will.i.am, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, singer-songwriter Bilal, singer-saxophonist Casey Benjamin, guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Derrick Hodge.
The album came together over a two-year period, and was initiated after Bailey started becoming aware of this forward-looking, all-embracing jazz generation. “I’d heard Rob Glasper was giving jazz a facelift,” Bailey says, and after attending the keyboardist’s live show, he was sold.
Bailey quickly brought Glasper on board to play on and produce some tracks, and he became invaluable to the singer in recruiting musicians and other decisions. But Bailey also continued with his own research. At Jazz Fest in New Orleans, he made a point of catching Kamasi Washington’s set and had a small-world moment. “Lo and behold, he introduced his father, [the woodwinds player Rickey Washington]. Me and Rickey had known each other for years!” Bailey recalls, chuckling. “We went to the same church! Kamasi went to bible school with my kids.”
“Artists like Robert and Kamasi and Christian,” he continues, “they embrace the nuances of jazz and its historical value, but they’ve really infused the game with new possibilities. And I’ve been the recipient of infusion.”
TRACK LIST:
- 01. Billy Jack ft. Robert Glasper
- 02. You’re Everything ft. Chick Corea
- 03. We’re a Winner ft. Bilal
- 04. Stairway To The Stars ft. Christian Scott and Christian McBride
- 05. Brooklyn Blues
- 06. Once In A Lifetime
- 07. Just To Keep You Satisfied
- 08. Sacred Sounds ft. Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper
- 09. Long As You’re Living ft. Christian McBride
- 10. Love Will Find A Way ft. Casey Benjamin
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