Black Nile are back with a new single, and it is a quietly stunning one. Brothers Aaron and Lawrence Shaw released “Danielle” on March 11, a slow-rolling jazz number written by Aaron during one of the most difficult periods of his life. The track arrives ahead of the duo’s forthcoming album, ‘Indigo Garden’, due April 10 on MASS MoCA Records. Listen here.
“Danielle” carries real weight. Aaron wrote it while going through chemotherapy, returning again and again to a melody he’d captured in a voice memo. “Every time I thought about this melody, I thought about her,” he said of his partner. The song is a love letter, and it sounds like one, warm and unhurried, built around feeling rather than flash.
Black Nile come out of the L.A. jazz scene that produced Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, and Terrace Martin. Both GRAMMY-nominated, Aaron’s saxophone work has landed him collaborations with Tyler, The Creator, Herbie Hancock, Saul Williams, and Carlos Niño. He gave André 3000 flute lessons. Lawrence has played bass for John Legend, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, Nubya Garcia, and Raphael Saadiq, and currently tours with Andy Grammer.
‘Indigo Garden’ was recorded at Studio 9 in North Adams, MA and Hen House Studios in Venice Beach, produced by Harlan Steinberger, who has been with the band since their earliest sessions. The album features cover art from conceptual artist Charles Gaines and contributions from keyboardists Luca Mendoza and Brian Hargrove, and drummer Myles Martin. It is both a deep bow to their Inglewood roots and a bold push into new jazz territory.
TIDAL called Black Nile’s sound “funky ideas, traditional thoughts, even a nod to dub music,” and ‘Indigo Garden’ delivers exactly that and more. “Danielle” is out now on all platforms.