As soul rules go, one doesn’t simply sample Maxwell. His falsettos- his passion- is the bedrock of neosoul. And yet, Zai Air takes on the feat and rises to the challenge with great success! An Oakland native with ATL influences, this young brother’s mellow vocals are served neat as a single-malt on the tracks that he produced. On “Blues and Rhythm” not only does he invert the title of the genre (which shows his innovative spirit), he uses familiar sounds and hooks from Maxwell’s “Ascension” as a stock for a jazzier, drum heavy, mellow groove. You can download the full track below the jump. Dig this!
Reinventing a Classic: Zai Air – “Blues and Rhythm (A Tribute to Maxwell)”