What is it about New York City, that concrete jungle that continually inspires the creative spirit? From Warhol’s Factory to Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage to David Mancuso’s Loft, collectives that celebrate and nurture unfettered, organic artistry have been absolutely intrinsic to the story of this sprawling metropolis. Its latest chapter is being written at the hands of ‘The Maestro’, Grammy Award winner Louie Vega and his Expansions NYC parties, the sound documented in his latest album Expansions In The NYC (Nervous Records).
As with his parties, so goes his album. The collective vibe that forms the beating heart of Expansions NYC parties is absolutely front and centre in Expansions In The NYC, Vega drawing in one of the most comprehensive lists of collaborators in recent memory. House heavyweights Honey Dijon, Joe Claussell, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and Anané rub up against legendary vocalists Bernard Fowler, Cindy Mizelle, Lisa Fischer, Audrey Wheeler and Tony Momrelle. Gospel royalty BeBe Winans and Debbie Winans, pop icon Robyn and rising star Karen Harding sit alongside disco-era champions Unlimited Touch, Cuban jazz pianist Axel Tosca, Nico Vega, Two Soul Fusion with Josh Milan and Vega and underground legend DJ Spinna. At the centre of it all, fingerprint on every beat, touch on every groove, sits a master at work, weaving the individual threads into a rich dance music tapestry.
"In the past few years I’ve found new inspiration both from the musicians I’m working with and the audiences coming to see me at my DJ shows,” Vega says. “So for me this album represents new beginnings, bringing together a beautiful mosaic of artistic perspectives to express musically what we call Expansions In The NYC."
At its heart, Expansions In The NYC is a love letter to New York, as much as melting pot as the city it represents, the scope of its line-up possible only because of the influence and reverence of Vega the artist, the DJ, the producer, the curator. In creating this album, Louie Vega has once again utterly enriched the lives and libraries of music lovers the world over, far beyond the hustling streets of NYC that have so indelibly left their mark on his work.
Track Listing And Details
A1. Music Is My Life Feat. Unlimited Touch
A2. You Got Me Dancing Feat. Audrey Wheeler & Cindy Mizelle
B1. Come Away Feat. Kerri Chandler
B2. Seven Mile Feat. Moodymann
C1. The Story Of A Story Feat. Lisa Fischer
C2. Change Your Mind Feat. Bernard Fowler
D1. All My Love Feat. Robyn
D2. Free To Love Feat. Karen Harding
E1. Feel So Right Feat. Honey Dijon
E2. How He Works Feat. Nico Vega
F1. Joy Universal Feat. Two Soul Fusion
G1. It's All Good Feat. Bebe Winans, Debbie Winans Lowe & Korean Soul
G2. Touch The Sky Feat. Tony Momrelle
H1. Love Has No Time Or Place Feat. Louie Vega & Elements of Life
H2. Dreamin Feat. Cindy Mizelle
FORMAT: LP Vinyl
LABEL: NERVOUS RECORDS
CATALOG NO: NER24828
BARCODE: 0091012482816
NO OF DISCS: 4
RELEASE DATE: 3/10/2023