RANDOLPH

Randolph crafts authentic music. With each song on “Lonely Eden” (Still Music) the Detroit artist weaves a compelling full-length album textured with haunting electric instrumentation, soul-stirring guitar melodies and riveting blues rhythms, influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Weather Report and the Delta Bluesmen.
“I’ve never been happy staying in one place,” Randolph says in a soft-spoken humble tone that belies his strong, silky performance voice and gripping stage presence. “If my style is diverse its coming from a lot of different places.”
Born in Philadelphia, Randolph is the son of a classical guitarist, who picked up his first instruments – guitar and percussion — in Sao Paulo, Brazil at age six. “I began playing out just before receiving my driver’s license in bands ranging from punk, jazz fusion, reggae, rock, funk, blues, jazz, folk and rhythm and blues,” he recalls. As he matured, he fell hard for the bass guitar, and honed his talent performing alongside along list of esteemed acts including P-Funk, War, Brian Setzer and Buddy Guy. He spent his teenage years in Detroit, and graduated from Central Michigan University, at which point he focused solely on music.
When fellow Detroit musician Mad “Mike” Banks introduced Randolph to the flourishing electronic scene, Randolph responded releasing cuts under the performance name Van Renn. His lengthy discography includes “Real Thang” (Soul City), Innerzone Orchestra ( “People Make the World Go Round” ++), “This Means That” (KMS), “Cardiology” (Recloose) and “Out of the Darkness” (As One). Randolph came into his own releasing “This is … What It is” on Kenny Dixon, Jr.’s Mahogani music imprint in 2004, which propelled his explosive style to a global audience. Renowned music critic Gary Graff described the album as “a focused disc, rather than a barrage of different styles and genre experiments.”
Never one limited to a singular style of performance, Randolph simultaneously fronted Mudpuppy, a popular New Orleans style funk and blues band in Detroit that released three independent albums.
With Lonely Eden, Randolph reveals a deeper, more vulnerable part of his spirit featuring collaborations with Detroit musicians including Waajeed of PPP, Amp Fiddler and “Mad Mike” Banks. “Usually an idea comes from a melody, rhythms or phrases in my head. There are so many ways to say one thing. I research words or concepts.” It’s all there on “Lonely Eden,” beginning with the reflective title track, a collaboration with Waajeed that incorporates harmonic and lilting keyboard lines. Empowering, driven tracks like “Leanin” add irrefutable funk whereas the mesmerizing “Earth to God” is a journey, which he describes as a thanks to life. “Broken” weigh heavy with Randolph’s rich tenor paired with vocalist Stephanie McKay on powerful lyrics. “Near the sun Telis is my name and I’m feeling unprotected.
“The overall message of this record is for people to take responsibility for the world we’re leaving for our children,” he says in a soft, reflective voice. Randolph is the ultimate musician who lets that message come most loudly through the music. Randolph, a prolific writer and touring musician will release collaborations with Jazzanova, German producers, Wahoo, Upperground Orchestra and with Waajeed later this year. Lonely Eden
Review by DustyGroove.com: – Dusty Groove
An amazing bit of cosmic soul from Paul Randolph -- a set that seems to take some of the best energy going down on the Detroit scene in recent years, and focus it together with a new sense of power and intensity! Randolph plays bass and sings on the set -- the former in a bumping, funky style that sounds especially nice next to the heavy acoustic drums mixed in alongside the beats -- and the latter in a sweetly crackling way that carries some echoes of 70s Motown, but which also pushes forward in a much more righteous direction. The tunes are quite positive and powerful -- and there's a really stripped-down feel to most of the set -- no overdone production or heavy remixing -- just core small combo instrumentation that's often mostly live, and which maintains a really spontaneous, personal feel for the set. Guests include Stephanie McKay and Waajeed -- but Randolph's clearly the star of the show, and we're hoping the show's one we'll be getting for many years to come! Titles include "Broken", "Soul Brutha", "Earth 2 God", "GPS", "Lonely Eden", "Leanin", "Valentine", "Believer", and "Eda Mae".
Press
XLR8R OCTOBER 2007
Talented Detroit soul vocalist Randolph's (ne Paul Randolph) artistic resume defies easy classifications. He's worked in funk, rock, blues, electronic projects (with As One and Kenny Dixon Jr.), and draws on a little of everything for Lonely Eden. "Claim", featuring Motown force Amp Fiddler, has an almost gospel vocal urgency, as well as spirit-lifting B3 organ riffs. Elsewhere, a sophisticated '80s – style pop R&B aesthetic informs the breezy "Believer" and brassy "Earth 2 God". "Soul Brother" conjures Kool'n The Gang's funk, while "Valentine" has echoes of Randolph's turn with Carl Craig's "Innerzone Orchestra version of "People Make The World Go Round". In the end, Randolph makes his myriad influences into a vocal Paradise.
Jazzanova returns with brand new single
The forth-coming album of Berlin-based DJ and producer collective Jazzanova comes with a guarantee for joyful listening. And the first single, "Let Me Show Ya" (which will be released as a 12-inch single and is also available as an eSingle), gives you an auspicious foretaste of what to expect from the entire album. For the recording of this lively, immediately ear-catching tune, Jazzanova hooked up in the recording studio with soul shooting-star Paul Randolph. Four years ago, the Detroit-dwelling singer and bass player caused a sensation with his debut album "Randolph Says, 'This Is... What It'". His vast experience includes working with an array of blues and rock bands as well as collaborations with producers of electronic music. With such a diverse background Paul Randolph blends in perfectly with Jazzanova's eclecticism. The proof for this is their groovy single "Let Me Show Ya". The new Jazzanova album will be released in October and promises some more pleasant (and ear-pleasing) surprises.
For more info and music, please just click on the link below to download mp3s, info sheet, and artwork:
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