GRAMMY® Award-winning guitar virtuosos Rodrigo y Gabriela have announced their first release of the new decade. The JAZZ EP will be available via Rubyworks/ATO beginning Friday, February 18 with an exclusive vinyl release, limited to just 3,000 copies worldwide, pressed on cloudy orange vinyl and individually numbered. Pre-orders are available now. The JAZZ EP will arrive on standard vinyl and at all DSPs and streaming services on Friday, May 14.
The JAZZ EP is heralded by the release of “Street Fighter Mas,” composed and originally performed by Kamasi Washington and available today – coincidentally, Washington’s 40th birthday – at all DSPs and streaming services. The song was premiered earlier today on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. The song is accompanied by a celestial performance video available now.
WATCH “STREET FIGHTER MAS”
PRE-ORDER JAZZ EP
“It was a no-brainer for us,” says Rodrigo. “Kamasi is one of the most exciting jazz musicians out there and ‘Street Fighter Mas’ has such a good groove.”
“It was a challenge for us,” adds Gabriela, “recreating the instruments with just two guitars, so it became a kind of game. We had to change a few bits and pieces, especially in how I interpreted the drum parts on my guitar.”
In addition to “Street Fighter Mas,” the JAZZ EP further includes distinctive covers of Snarky Puppy’s “Lingus” and Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” the latter highlighted by a guest appearance from flamenco-guitar legend Vicente Amigo.
“When you play someone else’s music,” says Rodrigo, “you need to get outside your own headspace, and learn from scratch, it’s a real challenge. We had great fun, we hope you like it too.”
The JAZZ EP continues a deeply creative period for Rodrigo y Gabriela, even as the COVID pandemic keeps them working from their home in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The EP follows last fall’s release of METTAVOLUTION LIVE, an all-new double album recorded during Rodrigo y Gabriela’s sold-out 2019 METTAVOLUTION World Tour. METTAVOLUTION LIVE is available now via Rubyworks/ATO as 2LP, 2CD, and digital download.
