Live from the
Fat Cat NYC
Story: Chanel J. Clark
Photo: Karl Ferguson
wine and focused my attention on a group of young men
setting up their instruments
for a rehearsal. The collective of musicians are none
other than the Anthony Coleman Quartet featuring Chris
Turner on vocals.
Chris would then begin to
belt out a soulful and melodic
harmony with Adam Jackson
knocking on the drums and
went to college together too.
We went to the New School
University. That’s where we
met Robert Glasper, Keyon
Harrold and a lot of big cats
that are doing it big now.
They were finishing up and
mentoring us and that’s how
we got together and we’ve
been playing together for a
long time.”
mash-up of all their influences,
“It’s like a Gumbo with a live
instrument feel to it.” Beanz
plays the drums, guitar, and
bass guitar; Kornbread plays
keyboard, piano, and organ.
It wasn’t until I stumbled
upon the Fat Cat NYC, a laid
back pool hall in the west
village of Manhattan, that I
found a true appreciation for
hip hop-infused jazz music.
The cozy Fat Cat exudes a
cool ambiance filled with
sofas positioned around
the performance area. After
finishing a game of pool, I sat
down with a glass of ginger
Basil Wajdowicz keying the
organ; Soils Puoane strumming the bass and Anthony
Coleman II on the trumpet.
My concentration hadn’t
been broken until the closing
of rehearsals… Seriously, it
was that good.
Coleman states, “We’ve
played in situations like this
before. I have my own group
(Anthony Coleman Quartet)
and Chris has his own group.
We do this, but when Chris
has gigs sometimes, we all
collaborate together as well.
Basil has a couple of gigs;
it’s just a family.” He adds,
“Everybody knows each
other... try to work together
and make it happen. We all
The duo is of course proud
of the hometown artists they
have produced for, “We have
worked with all the Houston
greats, Kirko Bangz, Slim Thug,
and Z-Ro.” Kornbread says the
@CHRISturnerLC
@AnthonyColeman2
To check out the Fat
Cat NYC, please visit them
online at
www.fatcatmusic.org
Beanz N Kornbread
“It’s like a Gumbo
with a live instrument
feel to it.”
Houston based Producers
Beanz N Kornbread met at
church but credit a broad range
of musical influences.
“We’re like music encyclopedias so it’s hard to say...
when it comes to artists of
course it’s Michael Jackson and
Prince. Also The Beatles, Beach
Boys, Cameo, Gap Band”, says
Kornbread. “As for producers,
Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, Dre,
J Dilla, and DJ Quick.” Kornbread says their sound is a
The use of live instrumentation
adds to the production and
draws artists to their eclectic
sound, “Mack Miller reached
out to us at the start of his
career and our track is featured
on his Best Day Ever mixtape.”
duo looks forward to continuing to put out good music and
maybe doing a Funk album in
the future.
@BeanznKornbread