TETON VILLAGE, WYO – The golden age of 1970s fusion that melded funky jazz-rock into a completely new dimension—Weather Report, Earth Wind and Fire, Mahavishnu Orchestra being among the most influential—has inspired the foundational roots of Richmond, Virginia quintet Butcher Brown. Not just a throwback ensemble, the band’s 21st century twist makes room for hip-hop rhymes and beats, garage punk, and futuristic jazz-funk grooves, referring to their own music as “hip-hop Mahavishnu.” Butcher Brown with local instrumental quartet Sidecake take stage this Sunday at Concert on the Commons in Teton Village.
Formed nearly a decade ago, Butcher Brown has a certain swagger that lends energy to smooth, sophisticated improvisation and instrumental goodness. Neo-soul pioneer D’Angelo famously hails from Richmond as well, and these fellas obviously take pride in their common musical birthright. Collectively, one could say they are a jazz ensemble—in the instruments they play, and the way they feel the music as one, building a performance together with grace and grit. Individually, they are: producer/keyboardist DJ Harrison, drummer Corey Fonville, bassist Andrew Randazzo, trumpeter/saxophonist/MC Marcus “Tennishu” Tenney, and guitarist Morgan Burrs.
“I would say that Prince’s legacy in Minneapolis is similar to D’Angelo’s legacy here,” says producer/engineer/keyboardist DJ Harrison, a founding member of Butcher Brown. “The difference is that Richmond is smaller and has a lot more black history and culture that influenced D’Angelo’s music. There’s a vibrant music scene here. It’s a small city that people often pass through while they’re going somewhere else on Interstate 95.” Harrison’s father was a local radio deejay and like most of the group’s members, he attended the jazz program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Butcher Brown’s eighth album, #KingButch, was recorded in late 2019 and is the culmination of twelve years of dedicated focus and commitment. It stands out as a bold step forward for the group in establishing their own sound, a confident production that features the best that each member has to offer. This includes rhymes for the first time, showcasing Tenney’s skills as a lyricist and MC. In 2021, they released the five-track EP, Encore.
“There’s beats, there’s jazz tunes with solos and there’s tunes with rock vibes,” says Harrison. “Also, there’s road-tested material that we got together while touring, and studio-written material. It’s a big mixing pot of all the stuff we’ve done up to this point, which is cool because it shows who we are right now.”
Opening the show is another fusion quartet, Sidecake, based right here in the Tetons. The quartet features guitarist Michael Evans, drummer John Wayne Harris, bassist Pearson Beasley, and keyboardist Grove Miller.
Butcher Brown with Sidecake, 5-9 p.m. Sunday Teton Village Commons. Free, all-ages, and rain or shine. Get take out food and drink from Mangy Moose, Osteria, Bodega and RPK3. Or, you bring your own picnic—outside food and beverage is welcome. ConcertsOnCommons.com.
Celebrating eleven seasons of free, family-friendly concerts in Teton Village, the annual Concert on the Commons series is produced by Poppa Presents, and the concerts are presented by Teton Village Association (TVA) with support from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) and all TVA business partners.
