Back in March this year, the first wave of a promised Charles Stepney deluge arrived in the shape of “Step on Step.” This underappreciated musical genius is the subject of a ‘Summer of Stepney’ as his tenacious family seek to broaden the appreciation of this work and artistry by unveiling previously unheard music.
This week sees the release of another rare, home-made song from Stepney and details of the official launch of the ‘Summer of Stepney.’ “Daddy’s Diddies” mines the same seam of lo-fi, sparse rhythm as “Step on Step” in marked contrast to the lush orchestral arrangements he is most famed for. Using rudimentary drum machines in the same way that Sly Stone did, he crafts a winning groove with overdubbed Rhodes piano adding its quintessential bliss to proceedings.
Rotary Connection 222 | Photo: Brian Ashby
Beyond the release of the music comes the exciting news that a collection of musicians including Makaya McCraven, Junius Paul and Stepney’s granddaughter Brandice Manuel have formed the group Rotary Connection 222 to play new interpretations of Stepney’s iconic catalogue. The summer’s events kick off with a front porch conversation between the Stepney sisters and cultural historian Ayana Contreras at beloved Chicago venue The Hideout on May 29th and draw to a close with a performance by Rotary Connection 222 at Chicago’s Millennium Park on August 18th.
Additional details about the whole summer’s cultural extravaganza can be found here.
Download “Daddy’s Diddies” via Bandcamp
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