Amerigo Gazaway

Explorer. Adventurer. Manipulator of Sound. Master of Ceremonies. Producer behind Fela Soul and Bizarre Tribe. *Formally Gummy Soul*   With the breakthrough release of 2011’s *Fela Soul*, Amerigo Gazaway’s sophomore effort was declared “a virtual web hit” (MTV) seemingly overnight. As the creator of one of the year’s most buzz-worthy independent releases, the 26 year-old Nashville native successfully showcased his unique ability to blend multiple genres into a singular dance floor groove. The son of renowned Jazz trumpeter, Gary “El Buho” Gazaway, the producer’s culturally diverse upbringing is reflected in his nuanced, multilayered instrumental arrangements. With a process the LA Times describes as “drawing a different design within a similar framework”, Gazaway’s cleverly executed remix/mashup projects gives audiences a familiar, yet fresh and distinct way to experience their favorite songs.   The producer’s first full-length instrumental album, *Selective Hearing Vol. 1*, was released in 2010 on the Cold Busted label founded by veteran dance DJ, Vitamin D. Charting on Beatport’s top selling Chill-Out sales chart, the album introduced listeners to Gazaway’s tasteful use of samples and unique knack for combining diverse sounds into something completely new and original.   While studying Digital Media at MTSU, Gazaway and fellow producer Wally Clark co-hosted the popular “Gummy Soul Show” on the now defunct Nashville radio station WRVU. The program, which featured rare 60’s and 70’s soul eventually morphed into a boutique record label operated by Gazaway and co-owned by the two former radio hosts prior to Gazaway's departure.   In 2011, Gazaway gave Roots’ drummer, Questlove, a copy of his recently completed Fela Kuti/De La Soul mashup fusion, *Fela Soul* after a DJ set in Gazaway's hometown of Nashville. Thompson would later call the album “brilliant” and publish it to his website, Okayplayer. Quickly spreading to other outlets, the album made MTV (Hive), The Source and BoingBoing before taking top 5 rankings on both NPR and Soul Train’s year-end “Best of 2011” list.   On the one year anniversary of his *Fela Soul* release, Amerigo found success a second time with the now unavailable *Bizarre Tribe; A Quest To The Pharcyde*. In merging Pharcyde vocals over re-orchestrated A Tribe called Quest samples into an album Vulture.com calls “a trip worth taking”, the album was downloaded over 30,000 times in its first two weeks of release.