Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life will be releasing their debut album for Blue Note/Revive Music on April 15. The record is titled Nihil Novi, and its lead track “Drive” is currently available as a single on streaming services.
Nihil Novi was produced by Meshell Ndegoecello. It consists entirely of original songs by Strickland, and was shaped by many many musical influences; from J Dilla’s hip-hop beat making to Bartók’s Hungarian folk music by way of Charles Mingus’ freewheeling jazz. “People have to be careful when they call something new,” says Strickland. “I think about what’s around me instead of trying to create something new. Everything is inspired by something else. Ecclesiastes says: ‘There’s nothing new under the sun.’”
The album features the latest incarnation of Twi-Life, which includes trumpeter Keyuon Harrold, bassist Kyle Miles, drummer Charles Haynes, organist Mitch Henry and keyboardist Masayuki Hirano. Nihil Novi also includes appearances from singer Jean Baylor, bassists Pino Palladino and Ndegeocello, keyboardist James Francies, drummer Chris Dave, guitarist Chris Bruce, and pianist and fellow Blue Note artist Robert Glasper.
Strickland has also announced the dates for his world tour, which kicked off on March 4 at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittburgh, and is scheduled to end with a round of dates in Australia in the first part of June. The tour will include a New York City album release show presented by Revive Music at (le) poisson rouge on April 12.
