Biography
Welcome to the Evolution of Hip-Hop
Armed with their unique signature sound, New York City's original hip-hop ensemble Mental Notes has been attracting diverse audiences for almost a decade.
Their eclectic fusion of old school hip-hop, funk, electronica, jazz and acid rock continues to break the boundaries of the New York live music scene.
Mental Notes has consistently added to the pulse of New York's musical and social heartbeat. They have been a previous guest on Air America Radio, appearing on Chuck D's highly praised live talk show. Most recently, Mental Notes bassist and songwriter David Dovo composed the original film score for Jerusalem in Exile (part of the "Art and Apathy" film documentary project of Eyes Infinite Films), an official selection and winner of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. While the lead vocalist/emcee Spiritchild has produced several film scores, spoken word albums for Nuyorican Slam Champion Ainsley Burrows and SmokiFantastic, as well as releasing several solo albums projects with include A tribute to Nina Simone, Eclipse of Hope and Creative Politics to list a few.
Collectively, the members of Mental Notes have collaborated and or shared the stage with a series of diverse artists including legendary producer Hank Shocklee, hip-hop virtuosos Dead Prez, Black Moon, soul-funk horn legends Tower of Power and Latin dance sensation Gloria Estefan.
Mental Notes vocalist Spiritchild has been privileged to work with revolutionary spoken work activists Last Poets as well as Brooklyn's Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. Bassist David Dovo's diverse talent has led him to create remixes for rap pioneers Public Enemy and work with such acclaimed jazz artists as saxophonist Daniel Carter and share the stage with Billy Martin of Medeski, Martin and Wood. Guitarist Fro has shared the stage with nationally recognized jazz-fusion artists Deep Banana Blackout, Garaj Mahal and the punk inspired Screaming Headless Torsos. Drummer Eran Asias toured the globe and recorded with such artists as Patty Smyth's Scandal, Will Lee and Dem Brooklyn Bums.
Together, this collection of prolific musicians create an intense listening experience that rivals any sound to come out of the hip-hop scene in recent memory. Mental Notes invites you to be a part of the evolution of sound by bringing their unique fusion of experimental hip-hop.
Mental Notes has toured internationally to Mumbai and New Dehli in India, Egypt, National College and Community Tours throughout the states. Locally, Mental Notes has played the Blue Note, S.O.B's, CBGB's, Triad Theater, The Knitting Factory and other local listings.
Instrumentation
spiritchild - vocals, emcee/rhythmic poetry
david dovo-bass, Low End Theory/Brain
fro - guitar
eran - drums
Discography
5 Albums for Mental Notes (all lyrics & arrangement by Spiritchild, music by David Dovo)
Close Your Eyes & Open Your Mind 2001
Event Horizon 2002
Hope Out Loud Peace Festival (live) 2004
Cosmic Slop Hip Hop Volume 1 new paltz (live) 2007
Cosmic Slop Hip Hop Volume 2 rebar (live) 2007Composition/Production/Arrangement by David Dovo)
True Human Design (EP) 2008 (Composition/Production/Arrangement by David Dovo)
3 Solo Albums (written, composed & arranged by Spiritchild)
A Tribute To Nina Simone (The EP) 2004
Creative Politics Chapter 1 reports from the rhythmic poet (mixtape) 2005
Eclipse of Hope (The LP) 2007
Compilations for Movement In Motion
8 Volumes Of Music for Collective 2003-2007
see www.movementinmotion.org for details
2 Spoken Word With Music Albums
Cataclysm 2000 Ainsley Burrows
Deep Space Harmonica 2008 SmokiFantastic
1 Tibetan Hip Hop Album
Liberation 2004 Namgyal
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/mentalnotesnyc |