BBE Music Celebrates 30 Years with Release of Valtteri Laurell & Ricky-Tick Big Band’s New Single “Won’t Do” | LISTEN!

Valtteri Laurell & Ricky-Tick Big Band
Won’t Do

BBE Music Celebrates 30 Years with a Big Band Reimagining of J Dilla’s “Won’t Do” as 20-Year Anniversary of The Shining Approaches

BBE Music proudly celebrates 30 years at the forefront of independent music with the release of “Won’t Do”, a stunning big band reimagining of the late James Yancey, aka J Dilla, taken from his final album, The Shining.

The release also marks an important milestone ahead. In 2026, it will be 20 years since The Shining was first released, a landmark final statement from one of the most influential producers of all time.

BBE has been deeply honoured to be part of Dilla’s legacy, releasing both his debut album Welcome 2 Detroit (2001) and his final album The Shining (2006), two essential cornerstones in a catalogue that reshaped modern music.

Taken from the album Visions of Dilla, “Won’t Do” transforms Dilla’s original beat into a rich, cinematic jazz journey. It is an expansive and soulful interpretation that embodies Dilla’s famously boundary-free creative philosophy: “I don’t like to limit myself creatively. I’m always exploring new sounds and styles.”

Finnish jazz producer Valtteri Laurell, alongside co-producer Teddy Rok (Teppo Mäkynen of Five Corners Quintet, Stance Bros. and more), delivers a masterful arrangement performed by Laurell’s 17-piece Ricky-Tick Big Band. Flowing for 5 minutes and 28 seconds of pure groove and elegance, “Won’t Do” feels like a piece of aural poetry, bold, immersive, and emotionally immediate.

The track features acclaimed flautist Elena Pinderhughes, known for collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Common, Esperanza Spalding, Lionel Loueke, and Carlos Santana, adding a soaring melodic voice to an already powerful ensemble performance.

With nods to Bob James, Henry Mancini, Gil Evans, and the later works of Duke Ellington, “Won’t Do” is a reminder of how far Dilla’s music can travel, and how timeless it remains when placed in the hands of world-class musicians.

As Dilla himself once said: “I don’t want people to just listen to my music; I want them to feel it.” With this release, you will.

“Won’t Do” is out now as a high-resolution digital download, taken from the digital and vinyl LP Visions of Dilla, released by BBE Music.

BBE Music