Kev Choice Ensemble Oakland Riviera Review
Have any melodies witnessed an artist play the piano and spit bars at the same time? Oakland native Kev Choice is the epitome of an artist with many roles such as hip-hop pianist, emcee, producer, composer and musical director. On January 16th, his band the Kev Choice Ensemble held the Oakland Riviera Release Party at Yoshi’s Oakland to celebrate his new album dropping the following week. His full Ensemble composed of piano, strings, drums, horns, vocalists and a special guest appearance from the official DJ for the Golden State Warriors, DJ D-Sharp, performed the complete tracklist from the Oakland Riviera. Fans of all ages filled the venue as the Ensemble took them on a classical, hip-hop, and soulful journey.
The album title derives from Choice on his worldwide travels and embracing his hometown culture as he takes listeners on a ride of his musical influences and views on life. He wants this album to represent a more positive and creative outlook on music saying, “This is the soundtrack of your journey. Music always makes you think a certain way, I want to make you think the other way.” He pays homage to his hometown naming all the instrumental tracks after streets in Oakland such as, “MacArthur’s Mood,” “Lakeshore Ave.” and “International Blvd.” Sounds like the perfect album to listen to as you drive around the Bay Area or take a road trip down to Los Angeles.
As the band kept the audience intrigued by the musicianship, Choice also brought out a few special guests such as Martin Luther McCoy, Lalin St. Juste, and Tony Vic to perform a couple songs. A turning point of the night was his performance of “Crazy Illusions,” a song dedicated to the late Gil Scott-Heron. Choice mentioned how inspired he was by Scott-Heron’s legacy and his passion of showcasing social and political issues to the people through music and poetry. The Ensemble received a standing ovation as fans continued screaming, “Encore! Encore!” They came back on stage to perform one of Choice’s first hits, “I Don’t Walk, I Fly.” They ended the release party on a hype note after performing their own version of Drake’s hit song “Started from the Bottom.” Naturally, Choice had to put his own twist to the song and make it more fitting to his life as he rapped, “Started from East Oakland, now we’re here.” Whether one is a fan of ol’ skool R&B, jazz, rock, or hip-hop, this band infuses all types of music together. After witnessing a Kev Choice Ensemble show, fans will not only recognize how hip-hop bands can put creative vibes on music composition, but also have a broader perspective on a plethora of genres. Oakland Riviera is available on January 21st.
Oakland Riviera Release Party
