New Music Release: Diz Crown | Basement To The Boulevard (Avail Now)

“Basement to the Boulevard”
is an incredible journey in modern northern soul music. From the opening
metronome of the first track “Soul Cafe”, it’s clear that you’re set
to take a wonderful ride with Diz Crown! Diz has become an inspiration
to all those who know him and is paving new ground with his unique
sound; one that recognizes the past but fully represents the future of
Chicago R&B/Urban Jazz.

Born and raised on the south side,
Diz Crown (born: Steve McGill) knows the ups and downs of a hard
economy. He’s survived unforgiving times on the streets of Englewood,
one of Chicago’s famous (infamous?) regions. As maligned as the area has
been, there were many sources of inspiration growing up found in the
musicians within his own family as well as friends on the scene. He
learned to play piano at the age of 3 and never looked back! So, let’s
fast forward….

As front man for the Runawayz, Diz first hit
became an anthem in the Steppers’ clubs in Chicago as well as midwest
markets. “I Just Can’t Believe” is being played at every steppers’ party
and is known for its faster tempo which is Diz’s style: turning the
party up! Asked what he wants to accomplish and Diz will tell you:
“Music stretches the imagination. Let it take you wherever you want to
go. I want to make people get lost in it! I love it that the DJs are
feeling it already because it is a communal thing…an experience!” This
liberty also extends to his view of the current state of the music
industry: “This digital freedom is the best thing that has happened to
music. Real talk, within the old record biz system this album probably
wouldn’t exist! CDBaby and it’s counterparts offer legitimate
opportunities to artists like myself to have control of the art again
and touch peple directly.”

Like the artist Kem whose been helping
to resurrect soul music on urban radio, Diz is looking to push the
boundaries of R&B/Soul/Jazz and usher in a new wave of listeners
hungry for a new thing!

As a staple in the local scene in
Chicago Diz has honed his smooth voice, incredible keyboard skills,
acoustic guitar chops and bass playing utilized throughout this CD. His
arrangements are smouldering on tracks like “Morning Comes Too Soon”,
then suddenly retro-house joyous on “Get Up Feel A New Thing”. His
versatility shines through every track considering he handles
production, vocals & most of the instrumentation himself!

And
let’s not short the crew that’s always got his back, the Runawayz:
Brian Dunn on the drums is like Chi-Town’s answer to Questlove…Everett
Newchurch & Chris Morgan with their wicked trumpets…and Eddie
Dunn laying down searing sax solos (check out the end of “Morning Comes
Too Soon” especially)!

As an artist with HiddenScroll
Entertainment, Diz is taking his product where record companies wouldn’t
think to go. “It’s fun to show up in small clubs and steppers sets all
over the midwest! Soon my band the Runawayz will be taking it all over
the nation. To watch the people react as we come in to do our thing,
there no matching that. We get so much love; we want to give it right
back because we know no one owes us anything out there. To get people’s
attention is an honor! We appreciate them stopping in and vibing with
us. But we’re like, ‘Hey I’m right where you are dancing and partying
with you We make it hot together!’ ”

Now back to that ‘pushing
the boundaries’ thing. “Favorite Sin” gives a nod to Lenny Kravitz,
while the new remix of “I Just Can’t Believe” boasts an amazing Dr.
Buzzard style motif (hey all you classic R&B/acid jazz enthusiasts,
check that)! Then we have “Better Leave Us Alone”…This is now second
single being lifted off the CD by the DJs in the two-step & northern
soul community and it’s complete with a doo-wop breakdown straight
outta the back alley! This is quite a range yet it all hangs together
cohesively. “All the music I wrote, the only thing I focused on was not
the radio but the street. That person having a backyard party. Somebody
driving down the road with this on. The person in the club, how this
would hit them. Keeping it as real as possible but also challenging them
to…uh..get up and feel a new thing!”

It’s evident
R&B/Soul/Jazz has found it’s new thing to take it to that next
level. “Basement To The Boulevard” will definitely set a blazing trail
for music with Diz Crown navigating. Prepare for the great ride….

Source: CDBaby