I was living in New York, but I partially moved to New Orleans. Let’s talk about the timeline and the process of putting together Pimps of Joytime’s new LP, Reachin’ UP. With past collaborators ranging from Cyril Neville, George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste, and the late Art Neville, it’s no surprise the ensemble’s sixth studio album exemplifies grooviness with a soulful-disco flavor that can only be Pimps of Joytime. Reachin’ Up encapsulates the band’s signature funkiness with soul-driven performances and masterful musicianship that keep listeners’ heads bopping and hips swaying. Together, their high-energy 10-track LP evokes the funkiness of New Orleans paired with an air of California cool and soulfulness that has seemingly plucked out of San Francisco’s effervescent music scene-all the while staying true to J’s Brooklyn roots.
The LP features J and his romantic partner/ new permanent Pimps of Joytime member, Carole C (Si*Sé), Antibalas’ shekere player Marcus Farrar, New Mastersounds bassist Pete Shand, and longtime friend and collaborator Chauncey Yearwood. On a two-week trip to the Bajou State, he started creating songs using an 8-track tape machine: playing with chord progressions while piecing together ideas that could become half the tracklist on Reachin’ Up. Subsequently, he was also actively moving his recording studio to New Orleans. In early 2019, before the pandemic-induced global hiatus shut down the world and essentially eliminated the live music scene, J lived in New York. With a manner that can only be described as the suave sophistication of a well-seasoned musician, the GRAMMY-award nominated producer delves into the ensemble’s latest endeavor. Positioned amongst an array of hefty sound equipment, the mastermind behind the Pimps of Joytime unabashedly dives into the story behind the early stages of writing the band’s forthcoming album, Reachin’ Up. Brian J is Zooming in from his recording studio in New Orleans.
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