With his Velvet Portraits LP set to drop in just over a week, Terrace Martin pays tribute to A Tribe Called Quest, who lost one of its founding members, Phife Dawg, yesterday, with “Tribe Called West.”
“I was inspired by the energy of N.Y. alone to do different types of music. That’s why I love the city. But I also wanted to do something to say thank you to one of my favorite groups,” the saxophonist told The FADER, who premiered the single. “Thank you for letting me know it’s okay to be different. Thank you for turning me on to jazz music, because without A Tribe Called Quest there would not be a Terrace Martin. I wouldn’t even be a musician because ATCQ is what made me want to play the saxophone.”
“Tribe Called West” features trumpet work from Keyon Harrold, who helps add to the low-laying jazz vibes throughout the two-and-a-half-minute experience. As the brush strokes whip over the snare drum, both Martin and Harrold trade riffs on the soothing track. Stream “Tribe Called West” below, and pre-order Velvet Portraits on Bandcamp.
