BSTC is soul. BSTC is disco. BSTC is hip-hop. BSTC is jazz. BSTC isyou decide. BSTC is all of this and so much more because, like music, BSTC is living and growing.
BSTC is short from BlackStone Theatre Collective, a name that pays homage to the BlackStone Theatre, which was home to some Chicagos most memorable house music parties. During the 80s, thousands of house music lovers would meet at the BlackStone for legendary parties where DJs like Lil Louis, Farley Funkin Keith and Frankie Knuckles would enrapt the crowd into the early morning hours. The members of BSTC lived these memories and now they return with a musical scrapbook that not only pays respect to the glory days of deep house, but also provides snapshots of where their music travels have taken them over the past two decades.
BSTC breathes. From the first horn stabs on 40 Days until the final piano keys on self titled track Black Stone Theatre, BSTC is perpetual movement, effortlessly traversing the musical terrain from house to funk to bossa novanever standing still, the music takes you on an international flight from the south side of Chicago across the Atlantic to the dimly lit clubs of Lagos and due west to the thriving Sáo Paulo scene. Never an unwelcomed guest or an out of place intruder, BSTC builds a home in each musical milieu and allows listeners to drop by for visit.
BSTC is freedom. Free of the would-be constraints of definitions and music genres, BSTC does what feels right and what sounds right. This free flow of music was not conceived in a corporate board room as part of some dollar-driven marketing plan. BSTCs music is authentic and true to the deep roots of the genres it envelopes, but it is never confined or caged in to a particular era, feel or aspect of this truly universal language. BSTCs movement through musical worlds is as natural as the movement of peoplealways growing, but never forgetting from where we came.
BSTC lives. If music is meant to touch us, to take us places and to teach us, then BSTC fulfills its promise. Songs such as Jazz In Outer Space and BSTCs standard Please Stay use sound to paint picturesque landscapes, leaving us enriched and better for the experience.
BSTC will move you, soothe youand most of all, groove you.
THE COLLECTIVE
BSTC is the love-child of Chicagos acclaimed producer, Andy C. Having produced for a whos who of music artists, including Janet Jackson (Thinkin bout My Ex), Mary J. Blige (Willing and Waiting and When We), Raekwon (Clientelle Kidds) and The Temptations (Hurt So Bad), Andy C. is now taking the reins on a full album and showing the world his full spectrum of his musical interests and abilities. Raised in the south suburbs of Chicago during the hey day of house music, Andy was influenced by diverse musical interests including soul, hip-hop disco and house. In addition to the above production credits, Andy has worked with artists such as Patrice Rushen, Vince Lawrence, Ramsey Lewis and Babyface.
With the BSTC he moves from the background to centerstage, and pulls with him some of Chicagos most accomplished, yet little known talents including Keanna Johnson, Tunji and Zzaje.
With a voice like heaven, Keanna H. Johnson aka Kee Kee Rose has sang back-up for musics hottest stars including R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e, Carl Thomas, Common, Dead Prez, Monica and Keith Sweat, but now the Chicago native is stepping into her very own spotlight on with the BSTC.
Keannas first solos were delivered to enthralled Black Church congregations on the South Side of Chicago when she was still a child. Meanwhile, at home Keanna was surrounded with soulful R&B music from the likes of Anita Baker. That nurturing and musically rich environment shaped Keannas deep desire to take her God-given gifts to the international stage.
After graduating cum laude from Florida A&M Universitys prestigious School of Business and Industry (SBI), Keanna moved to New York to pursue her dream of music. A mild-mannered corporate assistant by day, and a stand-out vocalist at NYs open mics and nightclubs by night, Keannas dedication paid off when R&B songstress Kelly Price, former background singer for Sean Puffy Combs, offered Keanna her first major singing opportunity. Price, who was looking for someone to replace her as she planned to begin her solo career, handpicked Keanna to travel with the Puff Daddy and The Family World Tour. This experience opened the door for Keanna to tour with other major artists, including pop sensation Britney Spears.
Coming a long way from the grind of corporate America, Keanna has graced the stages of countless award shows as a background vocalist including The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards and The Soul Train Music Awards, and her picture perfect face has appeared in the pages of Ebony and Jet magazines as a print model for Fashion Fair Cosmetics.
Keanna is the total package of looks, brains, talent and work ethic, all perfectly balanced on a strong foundation. The BSTC finally thrusts her and her undeniable gifts into the spotlight.
Multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer, Tunji, began his formal study of music on the guitar at the age of 10. By the age of 13 he added saxophone, flute and piccolo to his studies, later teaching himself how to play bassoon. During high school, beyond his formal studies of classical and jazz music, he was devoted disciple of soul music, 80's rock and house music. After earning a Bachelor of Art in classical guitar performance, Tunji returned to his roots and produced soul-inspired tracks for Chicago hip-hop and alternative artists. His artistry and skill ultimately opened doors for him to deliver performances as lead guitarist for the United Kingdom's undeniable god-father of neo-soul, Omar, as well as for the vibrant vocalist/songwriter, Julie Dexter. Never far from his Chicago roots, Tunji continues to collaborate with the citys premier DJ's on remixes and original music releases, frequently engineering while playing much of the instrumentation. ..