Raise It Up
released May 13, 2014
1. Simon Says 03:41
2. holy ghost 04:08
3. Little Dragon 03:46
4. Raise It Up 04:39
5. Jive Talking 04:08
6. Montague Terrace 03:52
7. I Believe In You (Do Believe in Me)03:07
Johnny Butler, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, compositions, production
Kassa Overall, drums
Aidan Carroll, bass on 3, 4, and 5
JJ Byars, alto saxophone on 6
Recorded by Hansdale Hsu at Serious Business in NY
Special Thanks to Todd Reynolds
Praise
“Raise It Up is a glorious mash of styles, sounds and soul music, not so much a display of technical prowess as it shows what a strong producer/arranger Johnny Butler is becoming.”
-Step Tempest
“Raise It Up, is a more dance/hip hop-focused album that includes more involved production, various samples, and a more hodgepodge sensibility that adds even more lushness to Butler's repertoire.”
-Nextbop
"Saxman Johnny Butler returns with an EP Raise it Up. This is music that works because there is edgy conviction. It's real and comes from the soul. It combines avant jazz, an electricity, rap and hip-hop elements. There's a bit of soul-rap vocalizing. There's a remake of the Bee Gees "Jive Talking" which incredibly does not sound dated. And there is Johnny Butler playing some vigorous sax....I dig this one for the high-tension-line thrust, the jolt of big-sound electricity. That's why it's on the guitar blog, because it has push that guitarists who like push will dig. The arrangements strike me as well worth your ear attention. It's cool."
-Gapplegate Guitar and Bass