11/22/16 O&A NYC REVIEW: Black Violin Breaking Stereotypes In Brooklyn

By Walter Rutledge

Black Violin perform at the Kids Inaugural concert for children and military families, one of the events ahead of the second-term inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington

Black Violin, the classically trained duo violist and violinist duo of Wilner Baptiste (Wil B.) and Kevin Sylvester (Kev Marcus), opened the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College 2016- 2017 season with classic style. Accompanied by DJ SPS on turntables and Nathaniel Strokes on drums Black Violins performed a varied program to a packed diverse audience. Billed as Black Violin: The Unity Tour Wil B. and Kev Marcus have taken their classical background combined with their love of hip-hop and created a truly signature multi genre sound they refer to as “classical boom”. Continue reading

3/7/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Classical Music meets Hip Hop: Kev Marcus of Black Violin

Inspirational Tuesday
maxresdefault-3

Black Violins, Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who go by the stage names Kev Marcus and Will B are two classically trained violinists living their dream. The Florida natives began experimenting with playing stringed melodies over mash-ups of popular hip-hop songs. The duo had no idea this sound was something craved by a wide audience. Continue reading

3/1/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Chris Botti In Boston- Performs Emmanuel With Lucia Micarelli (PBS)

Inspirational-Tuesday
511441762_1280x960

Chris Botti and Lucia Micarelli perform Michel Colombier’s haunting modern classic Emmanuel.  Continue reading

10/30/15 O&A NYC With WaleStylez- Song Of The Day: Black Violin – Stereotypes

BlackVi_Stereot_CoverAr_4000DPI300RGB1000165899

Stereotypes marks the third LP but major-label debut for hip-hop/classical crossover duo Black Violin, who also incorporate jazz, R&B, roots, rap, and pop into their unconstrained sound. Violinist Marcus and violist Wil B invited numerous collaborators to the recording, including but not limited to Grammy-winning singer Melanie Fiona, rapper Pharoahe Monch, keyboardist Ray Angry (Dianne Reeves, Elvis Costello), drummer Daru Jones (Jack White, Talib Kweli), string arranger/performer Rob Moose (yMusic, Alabama Shakes, Bon Iver), and producer Eli Wolf (Norah Jones, Digable Planets).  Continue reading