Butcher Brown, the talented band from Richmond, Virginia, is currently touring across the country to celebrate the release of their latest album, Solar Music. The group consists of Corey Fonville on drums, Andrew Randazzo on bass, Morgan Burrs on guitar, Marcus “Tennishu” Tenney on trumpet, saxophone, and vocals, and Devonne “DJ Harrison” Harris on multiple instruments. They are talented individuals who excel in singing, songwriting, and producing, and have a passion for infusing music with a captivating blend of traditional and contemporary elements. Music enthusiasts delight in the diverse range of genres available, including jazz, hip-hop, funk, R&B, alternative, soul, bossa nova, and many others.

I had the chance to have a conversation with the gentleman and gather more information about them, the project, and the tour to share with our readers. Once you start exploring their music, you’ll find yourself diving deep into a world of past and present songs.

Cox: For those who aren’t familiar with Butcher Brown, please tell me about the band and how you all got your start?
We’re a group of musicians that all have a jazz background but we’re also influenced by all of the other music of today. Popular music, we’re from the hip-hop generation ultimately, but we have a big appreciation for old school soul and funk.

Cox; Since 2013 you all have released forward-thinking and expansive hybrids of jazz and hip-hop with your music. There is this intersection where the two meet for you. Why is this something of importance for you all to provide for listeners?
It’s just constant evolution. It’s music that we listen to and music that we love. If we have the ability to try to create it, why not? There are never limitations to art. We are constantly maturing and inspired by whatever we’re checking out or just seeking that information. So you’re going to see those influences in everything we do.

Where do you all see the future of Jazz and Hip-hop in today’s culture?
I think it’s an interesting time because it’s been happening for a while now, at least the past 20 to 30 years going back to Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest and the Native Tongues movement. People have been doing it for years, so today you have to give something new to it. Others like Robert Glasper and the late Roy Hargrove… and then you have the stuff that came out as a result, Kendrick Lamar and Thundercat, that started a whole new trend. It’s like an updated version, fusion 2.0. So it’s exciting times, I think, for us to have a seat at the table.

Take me through the creative process. I would love to know how you all create music from start to finish. I want to feel like I’m in the studio.
Well, it starts with an idea that one of us brought in from Dropbox, it could be just a guitar line, a piano line, bass line, or just the drums. Sometimes it could be a complete idea that we already had. And then the classic, the one that we always enjoy, is when we are all together in the studio jamming out. Just playing, play for 10, 30 minutes just straight up breathing, until we find something that sticks with us. And that often turns into a song. There’s no particular way we like to make music. It’s not just one thing, there’s no limitations to that. It keeps it exciting

What other inspirations do you draw from musically in terms of genres and style?
Rock and roll has always been there. The blues, definitely blues. Love Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and a lot of the classic stuff. Alt rock of the mid 90s, grunge, drum and bass, House of Blues – you know, we pull from a lot of different genres. To me it’s just good music. But you can hear so many different flavors just because we have access to so much. Because we love music, we are always trying to find something new.

Tell me about your latest album Solar Music. What do you hope listeners takeaway from it?
Well if you go back and check out all of the music from our older records, you can hear the evolution and maturity. We’re all producers and songwriters, always changing.

You’ve stated over the past few years the band has become more refined and matured. Can elaborate on what it looked like for the band?
We’re still finding ourselves, it’s never going to end. We change. And the change is how we operate, for the better I’d say.

How has touring been for you all in multiple cities?
It’s been really cool to see people that know who we are. It’s been great. You never know what to expect out here, so to be able to see all these people coming out is insane.

What’s next for you all?
Definitely more tours in the new year. And we’ve got some things coming I can’t share with you just yet, so stay tuned.

You can check out the rest of their tour dates for 2024 here.