R+R=NOW

Robert Glasper's R+R=NOW announce debut LP, touring (hear 2 songs)

R+R=NOW

The Robert Glasper-led collective R+R=NOW has announced the release of their debut LP Collagically Speaking, out June 15 via Blue Note. The group consists of many contemporary instrumental greats, including Glasper on keyboards, Terrace Martin on synthesizer/vocoder, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah on trumpet, Derrick Hodge on bass, Taylor McFerrin on synth/beatbox, and Justin Tyson on drums. According to Glasper, the R’s in group’s name means “reflect” and “respond,” adding that “when you reflect what’s going on in your time and respond to that, you can’t not be relevant.”

Collagically Speaking is set to feature many notable voice cameos as well, from the likes of rappers Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) and Stalley, actors Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Omari Hardwick (Power), and actress Amanda Seales (Insecure), among others. The group has released two singles from the album thus far, “Change Of Tone” and “Colors In The Dark,” which both showcase the group’s blend of sounds, pulling from the worlds of jazz, soul, funk, and R&B. You can hear both tracks, and view an album trailer, below.

R+R=NOW will be going on tour beginning this summer in support of the new record, which includes a free BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn show in Prospect Park on June 22. All dates are listed below.

R+R=NOW – 2018 Tour Dates
June 15 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
June 16 – DC Jazz Fest – Washington DC
June 22 – Celebrate Brooklyn – Brooklyn, NY
June 28 – Leopolis Jazz Festival – Lviv, Ukraine
June 30 – JazzTM – Timisoara, Romania
July 1 – La Defense – Paris, France
July 4 – Vienne Jazz Festival – Vienne, France
July 5 – ICE Krakow Congress Center – Krakow, Poland
July 6 – Istanbul Jazz Festival – Istanbul, Turkey
July 7 – Locus Festival – Locorotondo, Italy
July 8 – Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland
July 11 – Vicar Street – Dublin, Ireland
July 13 – North Sea Jazz Festival – Rotterdam, Netherlands
July 14 – Dour Festival – Dour, Belgium
July 15 – Citadel Festival – London, UK
July 16 – Shephed’s Bush Empire – London, UK
July 17 – Nice Jazz Festival – Nice, France
July 18 – Mode Jazz Festival – Molde, Norway
July 20 – Pori Jazz Festival – Pori, Finland
July 22 – Black Sea Jazz Festival – Batumi, Georgia
July 24 – Jazz Festival at Barts – Barcalona, Spain
July 26 – Heineken Jazzaldia – San Sebastian, Spain
August 3 – Newport Jazz Festival – Newport, RI
August 29-30 – Billboard live – Osaka, Japan
September 1 – Tokyo Jazz Festival – Tokyo, Japan
January 26-February 2, 2019 – Blue Note at Sea