The last time that Zo! & Tall Black Guy got in the studio together, they brought us their exceptional collaborative project Abstractions. The album lit up our 2021 and beyond, with the duo and their musical friends touring off the strength of the set ever since. Now, they’re giving us even more of their magical musical union with the release of their second compilation Expansions.
Zo! and Tall Black Guy are in good company on Expansions. They enlist a cadre of previous collaborators, such as Sy Smith on lead single “Keep Him Satisfied” and “Skies,” BeMyFiasco with “Catastrophe,” DJ Dez on “Hart Plaza,” their touring vocalist Debórah Bond on “Slow Stories” and “Make Or Break” and Darien Brockington, who’s featured on “High On Your Love.” The duo also invites a host of newcomers into the creative fold — including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Micki Miller, Gareth Donkin and many more.
The new inclusions round out the album’s sound, but they don’t change Zo! and TBG’s main mission. The set takes listeners on a journey through Black music that incorporates jazz, funk, R&B, soul, house and hip-hop, offering up a new mood on each of the set’s 14 tracks. Interestingly, they start and end the album with symphonic sounds, including piano and strings courtesy of Pirahnahead and his Soulchestra, lending a cinematic quality to the proceedings.
There are several standout moments on Expansions. GRAMMY Award-winning spoken word artist J. Ivy sets the tone on “A Beauty Dance — Stretch Your Soul” as he encourages listeners to reboot, start over and level up. That track flows smoothly into Sy’s Mary Jane Girls-inspired “Keep Him Satisfied,” which is as sassy as it is funky.
Zo! & Tall Black Guy keep it so funkdafied on “I’m Good” featuring singer Raquel Rodriguez and rapper Phat Kat making an L.A. and Detroit connection. Romance is in the air on “High On Your Love,” which leans into hip-hop soul, blending D-Brock’s signature vocal, bars from Ozay Moore and Jazzy Jeff expertly cutting and scratching. The fellas take us back to the dance floor on the impressive “Find Your Way Back,” which combines strings, deep house grooves and the soaring falsetto of Nicholas Ryan Gant to amazing effect.
Expansions isn’t the sequel to Abstractions; it’s an evolution of Zo! & Tall Black Guy’s artistry. Abstractions has kept the duo on a high for years after its release, and we imagine that Expansions will indeed expand on their impact for years to come.
Zo! & Tall Black Guy Expansions [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL][Bandcamp]
