If you've seen Common perform live or caught a Stones Throw show with Madlib over the past couple of years, then you are probably familiar with drummer Karriem Riggins even if you didn't know you were hearing him. Not only has he been a timekeeper for some of hip-hop's best, he's known for producing for the Roots, Kanye West and Erykah Badu. The Detroit native also oversaw the completion of J. Dilla's The Shining.
Outside of hip-hop though, Riggins has seriously enviable jazz credentials having played with Betty Carter, Herbie Hancock and Canadians Diana Krall and the late great Oscar Peterson. Riggins is about to embark on the Virtuoso Experience, a tour meshing his jazz and hip-hop sensibilities featuring Common's DJ Dummy, the legendary Pete Rock and jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller. If "Soul On Top," a Marvin Gaye-indebted instrumental track is anything to go on, it should be a satisfying experience that may give him some long overdue wider recognition.
You can download Karriem Riggins' Soul On Top here.
Outside of hip-hop though, Riggins has seriously enviable jazz credentials having played with Betty Carter, Herbie Hancock and Canadians Diana Krall and the late great Oscar Peterson. Riggins is about to embark on the Virtuoso Experience, a tour meshing his jazz and hip-hop sensibilities featuring Common's DJ Dummy, the legendary Pete Rock and jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller. If "Soul On Top," a Marvin Gaye-indebted instrumental track is anything to go on, it should be a satisfying experience that may give him some long overdue wider recognition.
You can download Karriem Riggins' Soul On Top here.
