GIACOMO GATES is an extraordinary vocal stylist. He's often credited as a contemporary Eddie Jefferson, but with his full-bodied baritone and blazing inventiveness he sounds like a cross between Billy Eckstine and Kurt Elling. Producer Mark Ruffin, known for his love and knowledge of Scott-Heron's music, chose Gates specifically to perform this repertoire.  As bracing an innovator as he is an interpreter, Gates transforms the music into a cornucopia of delicacies that extends from the smooth and mellow to the razor-sharp.  Scott-Heron made music that reflected the turbulence, uncertainty and increasing pessimism of the early 70s, merging the soul and jazz and drawing on an oral poetry tradition that reached back to the blues and forward to hip-hop. This material is tailor-made for Gates, who without question is the best-suited performer to deliver the satirical and insightful lyrics of a true American original, Gil Scott-Heron.

GILBERT "GIL" SCOTT-HERON (April 1, 1949 - May 27, 2011) was an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and 80s, and for his collaborative soul works with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with Black activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". His poetic style is often credited with being one of the progenitors of hip-hop. In addition to being widely considered an influence in today's music (such as rapper Kanye West, whose platinum-selling 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy featured a track built around a sample of Scott-Heron's voice). Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I'm New Here.  Vocalist Giacomo Gates and producer Mark Ruffin were saddened to hear the news of the passing of this pivotal figure in music and hope that this recording will serve as a fitting tribute to the man and his work.

GIACOMO GATES, vocals • John di Martino, piano • Tony Lombardozzi, guitar • Lonnie Plaxico, bass • Vincent Ector, drums • Claire Daly, baritone saxophone, flute

Tracks: Show Bizness • This is a Prayer For Everybody To Be Free • Lady Day and John Coltrane • Legend in His Own Mind • Madison Avenue • Gun • Winter in America • Is That Jazz • New York City • It's Your World

 Show Bizness

 Lady Day and John Coltrane

 Madison Avenue

 Winter in America

 Is That Jazz