Lushh is an electronic jazz band based out of Kalamazoo, MI. The band has been together since late 2015, after meeting through the Jazz Studies program at Western Michigan University. While merging their jazz roots with more modern and contemporary styles, Lushh draws their influences from the likes of Kneebody, Donny McCaslin, Hiatus Kaiyote and much more. Lushh frequently performs around the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, collaborating with various musicians and artists. In addition to performing, Lushh teaches masterclasses at local Michigan high schools. Recently, Lushh performed at the Audiotree Music Festival in Kalamazoo, MI. In March 2019, Lushh collaborated with a visual projection designer to debut the Archangel Suite, a multimedia work combining music and live-triggered projection art.
Awards
After being named finalists for the Under 25 Students Category of the 7 Virtual Jazz Club global online jazz
competition, Lushh took 10th place. For two years in a row, Lushh was named Best Group in the
Blues/Pop/Rock category of Downbeat Magazine’s Student Awards (2017/2018) while earning an
Outstanding Performance mention in 2019. Eddie Codrington and Andrew Saliba both won awards for Best
Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist while Grayson Nye and Madison George both won Outstanding Performance
recognition. Lushh also just won the Bronze Award for Best Original Score by the Independent Shorts
Awards for their work on Dirty Dog, a film by Darius Gardner.
“Lushh” is what it sounds like it would be: elaborate, extravagant, enticing and layered. A band that is
getting a name for putting on a strong live show, Lushh serves its sound up softly on its debut LP, while
taking funky turns throughout and not being afraid to take chances. The self-titled work, which follows a
pair of EPs released over the past couple of years, features 11 tracks, nine previously unreleased, that span
a total of 75 minutes. Despite the lack of lyrics, the quintet, similar to their last offering, offers up a
thematic work that hits its highs and lows accordingly as it weaves a tale throughout, most notably for the
listener during the sequential, four-song, arch-angelic suite — “I
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“Lushh” is what it sounds like it would be: elaborate, extravagant, enticing and layered. A band that is
getting a name for putting on a strong live show, Lushh serves its sound up softly on its debut LP, while
taking funky turns throughout and not being afraid to take chances. The self-titled work, which follows a
pair of EPs released over the past couple of years, features 11 tracks, nine previously unreleased, that span
a total of 75 minutes. Despite the lack of lyrics, the quintet, similar to their last offering, offers up a
thematic work that hits its highs and lows accordingly as it weaves a tale throughout, most notably for the
listener during the sequential, four-song, arch-angelic suite — “I. Raphael,” “II. Gabriel,” “III. Lucifer” and “IV.
Michael,” featured on the latter half of the album. From the peacefulness exuded in “I. Raphael” (the angel
of healing) to the darkening II. “Gabriel” (the angel of revelation and announcement), the anxious, drum
and bass-driven “III. Lucifer” and the triumphant finale of “IV. Michael” (the protector against evil) the
intentional interplay between the five musicians is on point throughout. The tone of the album is set early
with the horn-driven opening number, “Kid Stuff,” highlighted by the quirky saxophone playing of Eddie
Codrington along with the accompanying work of drummer Madison George and keyboardist Grayson Nye.
The piece begins to take a trance-like feel toward the end, setting the stage for an eloquent and spacy
guitar solo by Andrew Saliba, who then takes the tune into another direction and dimension altogether,
something he does throughout the album. Nye starts off the following track, “Come and Get Your Money,”
carefully and quietly with his keys as bassist Matt Epperson lays down the rhythm alongside George and
the song transitions from soft and slow to funky and groovy. The ensuing “Healthy Habits” — which also
appeared on “NebuLushh” — is the only pre-recorded song other than the album-closing “Speckles of
Bronze and Blonde” to make an appearance on the LP. – Ryan Boldrey
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Location
Grand Rapids
Clinic/Workshop Information
Lushh teaches masterclasses to schools around the Midwest, working with emerging, young jazz musicians
who are looking to branch out from the traditions of jazz and push forward into the future of the genre. We
work with students, talking about different sonic capabilities of each instrument, including electronics,
pedals, and synthesizers, as well as how to use these in context of a band. We also work with young
musicians on how to start a band, how to get gigs, as well as our composition and rehearsal process for
progressive jazz.
