Cuando escuche por primera vez el EP Cartepillar de Malik Alston, en Third Ear Recordings, quede totalmente prendado de su produccion plagada de guiños latinos y una percusion extraordinaria. Estamos antes un productor de deep house que ha sabido trasladar todos sus conocimientos como musico creando piezas que podriamos etiquetar como Jazz abstractor. Cualquier apasionado por el sonido de la ciudad del motor detecta al momento una produccion de Malik al escuchar esos teclados casi imposibles.

La sesion que nos ha obsequiado es un reflejo de su trabajo como productor, una magnifica selección de tracks que enaman soul y jazz…

Malik Alston – Drum Talk – BrokenMix78

MALIK ALSTON
PRODUCER/COMPOSER/VOCALIST
Malik Alston is a multitalented composer, producer and performer from Detroit, Michigan. He is a graduate of Central High School, and has studied vocal music and electrical engineering at Wayne State University.
He began his musical life at the age of 11, singing at school with concert and honors choirs. His mother inspired him to excel, and to develop his voice. She was a classically trained lyric soprano and composer. Malik’s sister thought that he needed guidance to stay out of trouble, due to the loss of his father at an early age. She realized that his gift of music could be nurtured at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
By the age of 13, Malik experimented with writing lyrics and trying to find melodies, rhythms and harmonic structures on the piano. He didn’t have formal training on the piano, and found this to be difficult at times. His determination became his discipline. The front hallway became his muse, and the piano and the living room became his workspace. Malik spent up to eight hours each day on singing and writing music. He founded several groups early in his career, including The Voices of Joy, Love and Planet Pluto.
Malik currently performs original works with his solo project, Malik Alston & The Linwood Ensemble. The band has been warmly received at the House of Blues in Chicago as the opening act for Les Nubians, and at return appearances at the Jazz Café at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit.  He also performs as a founding member of the jazzfusionhouse band Painted Pictures.
He toured in 2009 as a founding member of Rhythmic Fusion, a live performance and DJ collective. The group performed in Detroit, New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Boston, Hartford, Springfield, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland with artists such as Eric Roberson, P.J. Morton, Mone’t, and Blue Nefertiti. He has also toured in the U.S. with Dwele, and has appeared in Canada with Paul Randolph, and Jerry the Cat.
In addition, Malik has performed in several touring gospel plays, including “Sunday Morning” and “Where Is My Father”. He has performed as a background singer and in concert choirs and live recording sessions with artists such as James Cleveland, Mattie Moss Clark, the Clark Sisters, the Winans, Donald Vails’ Voices of Deliverance, the Hawkins Family, and Thomas Whitfield. Malik has studied and performed at the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
As the CEO of Truth Manifest Records, Malik expresses his creative vision as a producer and composer on varied projects. Malik is honored to have received a nomination as 2007 Best Male Jazz Vocalist from The Detroit Metro Area Musicians and Entertainers Association (DMAMEA), and a nomination as 2005 Outstanding Electronic/Dance Writer Producer of the Year at the Detroit Music Awards.
Malik has worked with the Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross, in conjunction with Scott West of A Fine Mess, Inc. He wrote original music for radio and television commercials for the 2006-2008 Home Team Campaign, featuring members of the Detroit Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, Lions and Shock. The campaign was geared to raise awareness and funds for regional Red Cross assistance programs.
He is honored to be one of twelve featured Detroit artists on the 2008 Dodge promotional CD, Out of Detroit, Into Dodge. The project is currently being distributed to first-anniversary vehicle owners for the International Owner Loyalty Program.

Selected festivals that Malik has performed at include Movement 09: Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival (with Kevin Reynolds), Movement 07: Detroit’s Electronic Movement Festival (presenting selections from his solo project, This Music Is Life), 2007 Comerica CityFest, 2006 African World Festival, 2006 Winter Music Conference in Miami, Florida with a special performance, The Pocket: This Music Is Life, Movement 06: Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival (special guest appearance with Louie Vega), 2005 Fuse-In: Detroit’s Electronic Movement (with Mike Clark), Movement 04: Detroit’s Electronic Movement Festival (Painted Pictures), a very special solo concert appearance at Club Module in Tokyo, Japan in 2003 (featured artist, Beatdown Sessions Series).
His poetry and music performances have been featured with the poetry troupe EmRuop and in concert with the Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and Jessica Care Moore.

Malik has produced a number of music and poetry events in Detroit, including:
* A United Artists Benefit for Life at the Jazz Café in the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in 2010. Featured artists included Malik Alston & The Linwood Ensemble, Amp Fiddler, Allan Barnes, Al McKenzie, diamondancer, Mike Bonner, Mike E, Neco Redd, Cecelia Sharpe, Yolanda Day
* Live Moments at the Jazz Café in the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in 2009. Featured performers during the three-day event included Blue Nefertiti, Rhythmic Fusion, Malik Alston, Glenn Underground, Gene Hunt, Howard Wazeerud-Din II, Badriyyah, Veronique, JMo, Allan Barnes, The Linwood Ensemble, Yolanda Day and Freeway
* Creation at the Finite Gallery, a fall music series in 2006 featuring artists including Malik Alston, Jimpster, Jerry the Cat, Rick Wilhite, diamondancer, Jerome Derradji, Mark da Spark, Dwayne Jensen, Ayro, Painted Pictures, Sound Circle Collective, Angel A
* The Pocket at 5th Avenue Downtown, a monthly series hosted by Truth Manifest Records in 2005-2006. Featured artists included Malik Alston & Friends, Painted Pictures, Allan Barnes Trio, Martin Luther, Amp Fiddler, Sean Blackman, Khary Kimani Turner, Dwele, Slum Village, Roy Davis, Jr., Mike Clark, Norm Talley, Dwayne Jensen, Al McKenzie and Penny Wells, Lola Valley
* Several poetry and music events at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1999 and 2001-2002. Featured performers included Malik along with stellar artists such as Jerry the Cat, Siddiq, Woods, Ulysses Newkirk II, Khary Kimani Turner, Annodal, Aurora Harris, and Boogie

Malik continues to produce and write for a number of national and international artists. He continues to collaborate with many artists, including Javontte, Amp Fiddler, Allan Barnes, :brownstudy, Howard Wazeerud-Din II, Badriyyah Wazeerud-Din, Yolanda Day, Pirahnahead, Craig Huckaby, Rich Medina, Dwayne Jensen, John Arnold, Sean Blackman, Paul Randolph, Jerald Daemyon, Jabril Sun, D. Maurice, Neco Redd, MonicaBlaire, and Veronique.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY: MALIK ALSTON

CD Releases
Malik Alston presents Truth Manifest In The Mix! Mixed By DJ Norm Talley, 2007 / various artists, compilation (Truth Manifest Records)
This Music Is Life, 2007 / Malik Alston (Truth Manifest Records)
Tuxedo Sessions [Japan Edition], 2005 / Painted Pictures (Truth Manifest Records / P-Vine Records)
Tuxedo Sessions, 2004 / Painted Pictures (Truth Manifest Records)
Dinner Music, 2001 / Malik Alston (Truth Manifest Records)
Conscious Exposure, 2001 / Malik Alston (Truth Manifest Records)
Poetic Reflections, 2000 / Malik Alston (Truth Manifest Records)
Malik’s Mind, 1997 / Malik Alston (Truth Manifest Records)

EP Releases
The FutureSoul EP – This Music Is Life, 2007 / Malik Alston / 12″ (Truth Manifest Records)
The Soulatin EP – This Music Is Life, 2007 / Malik Alston / 12″ (Truth Manifest Records)
Tuxedo Sessions EP, 2004 / Painted Pictures / 12″ (Truth Manifest Records)
Caterpillar EP, 2003 / Malik Alston / 12″ (Third Ear Recordings)

Singles/Collaborations
Vibe Out on Out of Detroit, Into Dodge (Dodge promotional CD, International Owner Loyalty Program), 2008/  Malik Alston, MonicaBlaire, Neco Redd
Paige One, Sparkle on A Reason To Be, 2006 / Al McKenzie and Malik Alston / Al McKenzie CD (AMAC Records)
Close To You on Up All Night, 2005 / Malik Alston and No Milk / No Milk / CD (Music Conception/Soundscape)
In A Better Way on Mahogani Music, 2005 / Jason Hogans and Malik Alston / CD (Mahogani Music)
Butterfly on Detroit Beatdown Remixes, 2005 / Malik Alston (Amp Dog Knight, Jovante Remix) / CD (Third Ear Recordings)
Inside (Mr. Scruff Remix), Inside (Henrik Schwarz Remix) on Style and Pattern, 2005 / John Arnold and Malik Alston / John Arnold / CD (Ubiquity Recordings)
Back 2 Chicago (R.D. & Doc Link Short Drive Mix) on Abstract Jazz Journey – Mixed By Rainer Trüby, 2005 / Infinity feat. Malik / Roy Davis, Jr., Malik Alston, Doc Link / CD (King Street)
Cardiology (Isolée Remix) on Circoloco At DC10 Ibiza: Monday Morning Session, 2005 / Recloose and Malik Alston / Recloose / 2 x CD, DVD (Four:Twenty Recordings)
Lightshine on African Diaspora Vol. 2: An Electronic Music Compilation, Cranbrook Art Museum, 2004 / Malik Alston / CD (Time Machine Commercial Recording Studios)
Inside on Detroit Soul: Real Soul Music From The Motor City, 2004 / John Arnold and Malik Alston / CD (Unisex Recordings)
Back 2 Chicago, 2003 / Infinity feat. Malik / Roy Davis, Jr., Malik Alston, Doc Link / 12″ (King Street)
Butterfly on Detroit Beatdown Vol. 1, 2002 / Malik Alston / 3 x LP, 2 x CD (Third Ear Recordings)
Simple Pleasures, 2002 / A Minor / Alton Miller and Malik Alston / 12″ (Muse Recordings)
Cardiology on Cardiology, 2002 / Recloose and Malik Alston / Recloose / CD, 12″ (Planet E)
Shari Vari, 2002 / Malik Alston, Sky and Mike Grant (Remix) / 12″ (Puzzlebox)
Funk All Y’all on Funk All Y’all, 2000 / Detroit Grand Pubahs / CD, 12″ (Jive Electro)

+ info
http://www.myspace.com/malikalston

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