SoulBounce Review: Zo! & Tall Black Guy Give Us More ‘Abstractions’ With A Deluxe Edition Featuring New Songs With Phonte, Debórah Bond & More

By D-Money | SoulBounce
March 10, 2023

In the nearly two years since Zo! and Tall Black Guy’s collaborative effort Abstractions was released, it has never left our rotation. The set was chock-full of jams from front to back and included features from some of our faves. Most of all, though, it was a solid collaborative effort from two of the best producers in the game right now. Who could ask for anything more? Well, you don’t have to because the duo is giving it to you anyway with a surprise deluxe edition of the album.
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The Mixologists: dj harvey dent’s ‘For Zo!’(via SoulBounce)

Photo by Keith Estep • Article by Butta for SoulBounce.com

The name Zo! is one that SoulBouncers should be very familiar with. We have covered his music extensively over the years – from his solo efforts to his work with The Foreign Exchange and other artists – and evolved beyond fans into family. Zo! has a new album entitled Abstractions on the way in conjunction with Tall Black Guy that we already know will go into immediate heavy rotation based on the first two singles, “Talkin’ To Myself” and “Hold My Hand.”
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Little Brother – When Everything Is New
Zo! feat. Eric Roberson, Darien Brockington & Rapper Big Pooh – This Could Be The Night
Little Brother feat. Darien Brockington – Two Step Blues (Zo! Purple Suit With Matching Gators Remix)
The Foreign Exchange – Body
The Foreign Exchange – Body (Zo! Remix)
Zo! feat. Eric Roberson & Carmen Rodgers – Love Up
Zo! – SwingTime
Zo! feat. Carlitta Durand – Nights Over Egypt
Zo! feat. Dornik – Lifelines (Reel People Reprise)
Zo! feat. Dornik – Lifelines (Reel People Extended Mix)
Zo! feat. Tamisha Waden – Steal My Joy
Zo! feat. Tamisha Waden – Steal My Joy (Reel People Vocal Mix)
Theme from Sherman’s Showcase (70s-80s Version)
Zo! feat. Eric Roberson – We Are On The Move
Zo! feat. Eric Roberson & Phonte – We Are On The Move (Black Coffee Remix)
Zo! feat. Debórah Bond – Step Up Front
The Foreign Exchange – Asking For A Friend
The Foreign Exchange – As Fast As You Can
Zo! feat. Tiffany Paige – Inertia
Zo! feat. Joi – Just Whatcha Like (David Harness Vocal Mix)
Zo! feat. Chantae Cann – All Is Well With Love (Pirahnahead Remix)
Zo! & Tall Black Guy feat. BeMyFiasco – Talkin’ To Myself
Zo! feat. Sy Smith – The Train
Zo! & Tigallo feat. Darien Brockington – Written All Over Your Face
Zo! & Phonte feat. Tigallo the Tay God – Return Of The Mack
Aaron Abernathy feat. Zo! – When Reality Sets In
Zo! feat. Gwen Bunn – Count To Five
Zo! feat. Jesse Boykins III – If I Could Tell You No
Collective Peace – Where Have You Been
Zo! – For Pops
Zo! feat. Tiffany Paige – Free
Zo! feat. Stokley – Sweat
Zo! feat. Sy Smith – Greatest Weapon Of All Time
Zo! & Tall Black Guy feat. Darien Brockington, Muhsinah & Phonte – Hold My Hand
Little Brother – Whatever You Say (Zo! Remix)
Zo! feat. Nicholas Ryan Gant – Let It Go
Zo! feat. Debórah Bond – For Moms
Zo! feat. Phonte – ManMade
Platinum Pied Pipers feat. Tiombe Lockhart – Stay With Me
Julie Dexter – Transitions
Zo! + Asylum 7 – Overdue Process
Theme from Sherman’s Showcase (90s Version)

Sy Smith – “When I Think Of You” (Produced by Zo! & Sy Smith)

soulbounce-janet-interpretations-cover

Sy Smith and I have been making music together since 2008. So when she called me to work on a tribute song to Janet Jackson for my people at SoulBounce, she almost got cussed at (in approval) over the phone. She came through to the studio about a week and a half ago and we went to work on our version of Miss Jackson’s “When I Think Of You” for SoulBounce’s #31DaysOfJanet series this month. We had a ball knocking this one out and I hope y’all enjoy it!!

Sy Smith – “When I Think Of You”
(J. Harris III, T. Lewis)
Produced by Zo! & Sy Smith
Arranged by Sy Smith
All instruments by Zo!
Recorded & mixed by Grant Nicholas at G Nick Studios, North Hollywood,
CA and Zo! at East Wing Studios, Silver Spring, MD
Mastered by Grant Nicholas

‘ManMade’ Listed as one of SoulBounce’s “Best Albums Of 2013”

soulbounce-hot-16-best-albums-of-2013-473-thumb-473xauto-12873

Zo! ManMade [Amazon][iTunes]
The “jheri curl jam” connoisseur had a great 2013. After releasing the album ManMade in May, Zo! took the year by storm with videos (muppets included), a tour and even a documentary. The album stood out for its execution and production, staying true to Zo!’s brand. Injected with funk, soul and jazz, ManMade was a relaxed, yet exciting project, which solidified Zo! a spot pretty high on our favorite producers list. With appearances from soul royalty PhonteEric RobersonSy SmithJeanne JollyCarmen Rodgers,Anthony David and many more, ManMade had some great, organic moments that easily made it one of the best albums we’ve had the pleasure of listening to this year. — Mercy

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‘ManMade’ Listening Event at Frank’s Lounge in Brooklyn, NY – May 21, 2013

NuSoulTuesday-052113

ManMade Listening Event at Frank’s Lounge with Zo!

Hosted by Jodine Dorce of Jodine’s Corner

In preparation for Zo!’s June 9th show in NYC
Nu-Soul Tuesday celebrates his new album
ManMade
with a listening party/meet & greet event on the day of its release.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Listening Event | Live Interview | Meet & Greet with Zo!
*Note: This is not a performance*
Frank’s Lounge
660 Fulton St. | Brooklyn, NY 11217 | (718) 625-9339
8:30p – 11:30p
$5 +  One Drink Minimum

SoulBounce.com Gives End of the Year Props to ‘…just visiting three’

SoulBounce.com just unveiled its “Hot 16: SoulBounce’s Best Albums of 2011” which gave ‘end of the year’ props to my …just visiting three EP as well as my brother Phonte’s Charity Starts At Home… one of my favorite people IN music Deborah Bond’s Madam Palindrome album… and the family affair album and DVD that featured +FE’s entire live collective The Foreign Exchange’s Dear Friends: An Evening With The Foreign Exchange.

Source: SoulBounce

We may live in a singles-driven, pick-what-songs-you-want-from-the-menu world now, but there’s nothing like buying an album and letting it play straight through. No skips. No pressing stop to listen to something else. Just letting it ride out and getting lost in the groove. That’s the sign of a good album, and 2011 had its fair share. That’s why narrowing down all of the albums that we had in heavy rotation at SBHQ was quite a task, but we whittled our collective favorites down to a Hot 16 to present SoulBounce’s Best Albums of 2011. We started out the year anticipating many of them, but a few snuck in to surprise us with just how undeniably great they were. We have high expectations for another banner year for progressive urban music ahead, but not before looking back on the exceptional year that was and our Hot 16 plus a long list of albums that deserve honorable mentions. Be sure to come back tomorrow to find out which one of these albums will receive our Album of the Year nod during our annual SoulBounce Honors. Read the full article

                                                                              

…just visiting three can ALSO be found twice on the “Hot 16: SoulBounce’s Best Songs of 2011” for “Playing Your Game, Baby” featuring Anthony David and “Marzipan” featuring Eric Roberson and Phonte. It also makes an appearance on the ‘Honorable Mention’ list for “Everything She Wants” featuring Phonte.

Source: SoulBounce

Oh 2011, where, oh where, did you go? It seems like just yesterday that we here at SBHQ were lamenting the slow start to the year and hoping that the remainder would make up for it. Well, we definitely weren’t disappointed with the vast majority of what we heard. These past 12 months have brought us new music from old faves and a slew of new faves to join them, and our list of SoulBunce’s Best Songs of 2011 reflects that. If you’ve been following SoulBounce this year, then some of these selections should be no-brainers, but there are few surprises to be had. 

In the past, each editor has posted their own year-end top 10 list of songs, but in an effort to streamline the process the staff of SoulBounce has combined all of our eclectic tastes together into one Hot 16. We may or may not have had a Love & Hip Hop style brawl to narrow this list down to just 16 songs, but not to worry because a list of honorable mentions is included as well. Without further delay, see what tunes made our Best Songs of 2011, and stay tuned for SoulBounce Honors 2011 where we’ll crown one of these as Song of the Year. Read the full article

SoulBounce Names Zo! Their 2010 Producer Of the Year!


Source: SoulBounce · By Ivory

While here at the SB headquarters we don’t always see eye-to-eye in terms of music, one thing we do agree on is that 2010 was, indeed, the year of Lorenzo Ferguson better known to all as Zo!. Many of the Detroit-bred, D.C.-based multi-instrumentalist and producer’s melodies provided the soundtrack to our 2010. Let’s face it, he seemed to be everywhere this year. Zo! managed to hit us off with stellar production work nearly every season this year, making him easily the SoulBounce Honors 2010 Producer of the Year.

Zo! kicked things off in the spring, when his fellow Foreign Exchange Music labelmate YahZarah released her highly-anticipated album, The Ballad of Purple Saint James. He lent his production talents to her single “Cry Over You” featuring Phonte. The funky, upbeat track provided the perfect backdrop for YahZarah’s sassy rebound tale.

By the time the summer release of his own full-length FE Music debut, SunStorm, we were practically foaming at the mouth with anticipation of the musical delicacies our ears were about to feast on. And boy, did he not disappoint. Drawing comparisions to Stevie Wonder‘s Songs in the Key of Life, SunStorm served up a delicious composition of musicianship and artistry. As previously stated in our review of the album, “While some producers may stumble when their musical ambitions find them dabbling in different genres, Zo! expertly navigates vast musical terrain.” Nearly six months later, this album continues to amaze with his wide-range of talents, sprinkling in a dash of jazz here, a spoonful of broken beat there and a whole lotta fun, spirited soul and hip-hop ingredients in between.

In with the cool weather of the fall, came the equally-cool third group project, Authenticity, from The Foreign Exchange. While most production was still held-down by FE co-founder Nicolay, Zo!’s fingerprints still remained all over this album. Picking up where the group’s previous project, Leave It All Behind, left all, this album was melancholy and slightly-experimental, where LIAB was hopeful and soulful. Zo! even took a turn on the mic–albeit a talkbox mic–on “Don’t Wait.” Whether he was leading us through the highs of love or guiding us through the dreary days of heartbreak, Zo! consistently used his musical prowess to help bring the vivid emotions to life. Through his fingertips, we were able to feel sentiment just as clearly as we could hear it.

And to think, Zo! managed to deliver a crop of good music all while holding down a full-time gig as a music teacher in Washington, D.C. By showcasing us such a versatile range of musical portraits in 2010, we can only imagine what Zo! has in store for us in 2011. If next year is anything like this past one has been, then you better make room on your iPods for more phenemonal music.