This is a collection of Christmas tunes that we've been rockin' over the past few years during the holiday season. We were excited to have the opportunity to record these tracks live in the studio with Frank Marchand at Hudson St. Studios in Annapolis, MD.

Recorded 12/8/2014

Vocals: Jay Crawdads
Drums: Marty Bouchard
Keyboards: Larry Byrne
Saxophone: Troy Atkins
Guitar: Bryan Ewald
Bass: Eric Bouchard
Percussion: Leroy "Boogie" Greer

Backdoor Santa

From the album, The Real Thing.  DOWNLOAD on iTunes, https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-real-thing/id640677776
 

Feels Good

Guiltypleasures - Soul (feat. Sol Edler)

Salt Water Jackie

Rock & Roll Mind Control

Here's a rough of a song I was working on.  I don't think it's going on the album but you never know......  either way, thanks for listening.

Shit Happens (Rough 1)

SETLIST:

01) Go Back To The Thing / Let Me Have It All (Sly & The Family Stone)
02) Cosmic Slop (Funkadelic)
03) Woman’s Gotta Have It (Bobby Womack)
04) The Line
05) You Caught Me Smilin’ / Africa Talks To You “The Asphalt Jungle” (Sly & The Family Stone)
06) Tell Me If You Still Care (The S.O.S. Band)
07) Our Love Has Died (Ohio Players)
08) The Root
09) Really Love
10) Alright
11) Mother’s Son (Curtis Mayfield)
12) New Position (Prince)
13) Africa
14) encore break
15) Lady


• Recorded from the crowd, 30' back right centerish.
• Fades, EQ, and levels adjusted in Logic.
• Audio at end of "Africa" spliced with Okayplayer.tv youtube audio (mic unplugged)
• Occasional commentary (and one of the finest swoons ever recorded) provided by my man Marty Bouchard of Higher Hands.
• photo credit: Okayplayer

D'Angelo & Questlove at Brooklyn Bowl, 3/4/13 | Complete

Discovering Levi Stephens’ music is like enjoying a surprisingly great meal at the local cafe you’ve passed a thousand times before finally deciding to stop in. You thought you knew what you were getting into, but this is something more. It’s refreshing --a pleasant surprise that a new artist in an industry plagued by dying creativity chooses to follow in the tradition of those classic singer- songwriters that came before. With each song he writes, Levi’s goal is timelessness. “I feel like that kind of music will always have a place and staying power” he says. His songs explore a variety of relevant subjects while including the elements that always stand the test of time; musicianship, strong lyrics, and shared experiences. He has a special gift that gravitates people to listen and love the sound of Levi Stephens.

02 - I Love You (That's Way)

Raashan Ahmad-Ease on back (Higher Hands' Due Dilla-Gence Remix)
Ease on back remix done by Higher Hands from Washington D.C.
http://higherhandsmusic.com/
Original version found here:
http://raashanahmad.bandcamp.com/

Raashan Ahmad-Ease on back (Higher Hands' Due Dilla-Gence Remix)

Higher Hands are poised to reintroduce themselves. With a fresh line-up and matured approach to songwriting, the second album is complete: STAY SHARP dropped on Nov 17th 2012.

The sophomore record is servin up more of that signature sound, defined by funk and steeped in soul.  STAY SHARP has a full roster of notable guest players and local luminaries lighting up its 12 tracks. Powerful percussionists, veteran guitarists, brass activists, and soulful session vocalists all make contributions. The beats are head noddin’, the solos skilled. This is Fusion, updated and flavored by Hip-Hop, Afrobeat, and Go-Go.

Higher Hands ya’ll, right there in the pocket... Funky Soul Fusion with a Twist of Rhyme.

Backdoor Santa

HigherHands