Fertile Ground - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Although they're considered new artists, Fertile Ground has seven years, countless performances, and dozens of recordings to their credit. After 2 years of extensive touring, writing and recording, the group unveiled their fourth full-length masterpiece, simply entitled Black Is... The highly-anticipated CD, is the sequel to the acclaimed 2002 release Seasons Change. This fourth full-length album, contains a range of ethereal classics such as "Yellow Daisies", a soulful jazz waltz ballad full of affirmation, the joyful noise of "Live In the Light"; and the introspectively revealing song "Naked," which gives us an example of how to truly connect with and reflect each other.Selling more than 125,000 albums , Fertile Ground has created the modern blueprint for independent music sales and become the leader of a movement. With a rebellious freedom and an undaunted genius Fertile Ground's founding leader and keyboardist, James Collins, started Blackout Studios to help get the band's music to listeners the best way possible. Where many artists believe the hype and opt to stand in the longest line waiting to be scooped up by a label, Blackout Studios recognizes that good music can be transmitted through the effective use of the underground. Fertile Ground has shared the stage with such multi-platinum heavyweights as Cassandra Wilson, Hugh Masekela, Me'Shell N'Degeocello, India Arie, Wynton Marsalis, Jill Scott, Chaka Khan, and even Run DMC. The band is often classified as Soul-Jazz, but they spill out of any genre as a cross-cultural fusion of all things spiritual and funk-ridden. In this realm called good music, theatrics never replace integrity, nor does experience and success replace a creatively fresh approach to each project. Messages are heart-felt, conveying an unashamed spirituality, a firm political stance, or whatever the moment requires, and everything is heavily supported by raw, organic, often danceable compositions in the tradition of Fela Kuti, Stevie Wonder, Santana, and Earth Wind & Fire. With the requisite strength, depth and energy to electrify crowds, musicians, DJs, journalists, and promoters not just once or twice, but over and over again, Fertile Ground has been cementing their place as musical and social innovators.

You asked for video so here it tis

FERTILE GROUND IN EUROPE CORNWALL UK 2003

Live in Baltimore "Artscape"Amsterdam - Live at the ParadisoVienna - Live at Joe Zawinal's BirdlandJazzy Summer Nights in Baltimore (Fan Video)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/24/2005
Band Website: blackoutstudios.com
Band Members: Navasha Daya (Vocals, Percussion); James Collins (Keyboards, Synth Bass, Production); Freddie Dunn (Trumpet, Fluglehorn); Craig Alston (Saxophones); Ekendra Das (Percussion); Joel Mills (Guitar); and Mark Prince (Drums).
Influences: Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Weston, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Lafayette Gilchrist, Duke Ellington, Bill Withers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Lee Morgan, Tony Williams, Prince, Koop, Earth Wind and Fire, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Phyllis Hyman, Ella Fitzgerald, Amel Larrieux, Nina Simone, Esthero, Incognito, Poncho Sanchez, Sade, Bob Marley, De La Soul, Roy Hargrove, Cree Summers, Each Other
Sounds Like:
Record Label: Blackout Studios
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Barack Obama

I am an American Skeptic. This country has created so much frustration and disgust in my heart that it is often hard for to be emotionally invested in political process. It...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:52:00 PST

R.I.P. Ruby Glover

Every City has a group of teachers/mentors who claim the responsibility of preserving art and culture. One of the great mentors and teachers of Jazz in Baltimore City was a sister named Ruby Glover. ...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:57:00 PST

RIP MAMADI NYASUMA

Mamadi Nayasuma (http://www.myspace.com/2kblack) I first met Mamdi in the late 90's with his group 2000 black. Mamadi was a gifted percussionist and a skillfull artist in general.&nb...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:30:00 PST

RIP ALICE COLTRANE

August 27, 1927 - Jan 13, 2007 This is just a prayer to send out to the universe giving thanks for Alice Coltrane . She is a spiritual leader, a composer and an artist in so many ways.&nbs...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:57:00 PST

Great Night

It's a beautiful thing when hometown music can sell out a premier venue. Many thanks to Mn8 Enterprises, Raheem Devaughn, Anthony David,WPFW, and The Washibton Post for giving us another so...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 04:41:00 PST

FG Discography checkit out

People have been emailing me about albums that Fertile Ground appears on so I compiled a list with the help of discogs.com most of the albums that Fertile GRound has recorded and/or appeared on. FG's ...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 06:09:00 PST

Chico Hamilton - Simple Timeless

So, I received an email a few months back from Joyous Shout -the label that puts out the music of 85 year-old jazz drummer Chico Hamilton. The email was a proposition to interpret about 8 bars of drum...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:54:00 PST

Another Feb on it's way

Okay so I love February. -- It being my Earthday month and all.-- But one thing that I have to mentally prepare myself for is BLACK HISTORY MONTH?!&*! Now don't get me wrong, ...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Tue, 24 Jan 2006 10:46:00 PST

Where is the music?

Is it me or has going to the record store on tuesdays become a passed time past time. No offense to folks who recently put out records, but I can't even get mildly excited about the last fe...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Wed, 18 Jan 2006 11:56:00 PST

Check out this event: Benefit for Hurricane Survivors

Hosted By: Fertile Ground/Eric Roberson/Anthony DavidWhen: Friday Dec 23, 2005at 9:00 PMWhere: 9:30 Club815 V StreetWashington, DC 20009USDescription:Fertile Ground/Eric Roberson/Anthony David Click H...
Posted by Fertile Ground on Fri, 16 Dec 2005 01:17:00 PST