Witness

Derek Lassiter’s Witness offers up a breath of fresh air for fans of soul music. The CD delivers a sound that is earthy, percussion-driven, spiritual and sensual. From the edgy opening track “Hunger” to the jazz-driven “I’ll Grow,” Lassiter’s poetic songs are ultimately rooted in Africa and Africa-America: the church and the drum. Featured collaborations include Tom Freund, long-time song writing partner of Ben Harper and Louisiana Blues legend Lady Mem’fis. Lassiter’s Witness takes listeners on an emotional autobiographical journey. "Well, I had an unusual upbringing," Lassiter muses when asked about his lyrical content. "I was born in the South Bronx, but after a series of dramatic family events, I soon found myself bouncing around the foster-home system in rural and suburban Pennsylvania. Reconciling those hugely influential, yet vastly differing environments has been the task of a lifetime. With Witness, I feel I've finally made the soundtrack to my life." Witness bristles with an earthy, organic energy. Latin, Asian, and African percussion abound, along with jazzy guitar, bass, keyboards, and Lassiter's church-evoking, poetic vocals. For the past 15 years, Lassiter has been a fixture on the San Francisco arts scene, acting in an assortment of well-received plays (including James Baldwin's The Amen Corner, and Erin's Hope by local playwright Ian Walker), and fronting bands (from hard rock to soul) at top San Francisco venues like Slim's and The Great American Music Hall.