TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSIC
Carlos Cannon is known as a smooth jazz saxophonist with three Smooth Jazz CD’s, “Steppin’ Up The Game,” “Takin It Smooth,” and “In The Name of Love.” Until recently, Carlos Cannon is making his imprint as a smooth R&B vocalist. As a vocalist, he released a dance video called “Hennessy,” and within four months it reached over 121k on YouTube. He continued show off his vocal talent by releasing another club dance video “GreyGoose,” and his latest single called “Big Daddy.” As an independent artist, the native Chicagoan has performed throughout the country and has the blessings to open concert for or played with “Temptations,” “George Duke & Stanley Clack” “Michael Manson,” “Fred Hammond” and a host of other famous artists.
Mr. Cannon latest CD released is called, “Steppin’ Up The Game,” is one of the most requested smooth jazz CD in Chicago and is reaching the attention across the states. At the age of 12, Carlos Cannon started playing the bass guitar in neighborhood bands and high school. Inspired by the late Grover Washington Jr., Charley Parker, Carlos Cannon eagerly picked up the alto saxophone and became the first chair player in the Paul Robeson high school jazz band in Chicago. Carlos Cannon went on to major in music performance at Illinois State University where he formed his own jazz band and took first place in the state jazz band competition. He later transferred to Roosevelt University and continued his musical studies.
TALK TO US MORE ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE
I released a single called, “Hennessy,” September 2020. Although Hennessy is a drink, the song and video is about joy, dance, and having fun. However, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic had affected the music industry worldwide. It caused many artists, bands, musicians, and club owners how to rethink on how to make money and perform by using the Internet. While the music industry being shut down, I decided to get into another genre of music vocally started singing. One day in my studio, I was bumping a dance track that I had written. My wife, Daiane came into my music studio. While in the recording mode, I began to notice something magical was happening. The rhythmic rhymes of her voice and her Brazilian flavor (rapping) gave a flavor to the song, “Hennessy,” was formed. However, the “Hennessy,” song could not be completed without having some smooth funky soprano sax. My right-hand man, TChi, lay down the colorful ad-libs vocals. My college buddy Kevin Hanshaw produced the videos.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS RELEASE? Like a smooth jazz saxophonist who had released three smooth jazz CD’s, I always wanted to sing but could not find my singing niche. The “Hennessy,” song was created when one day I asked my wife, after 10 years of being together, to say something over a dance music track I have written. While in my music studio, Daiane was playing around with words (free styling) on the microphone. While recording her, I began to notice something magical was happening. Daiane’s rhythmic voice was unique and was on point, her rhythmic rhythms of her Brazilian culture was flowing naturally. This Brazilian woman has skills vocally she and I didn’t know about. After recording her unique style of rapping, I infused the Dance track with a funky soprano sax solo groove. We then exchanged some lyrical verses and “Hennessy” was formed..
DESCRIBE THE WRITING AND RECORDING AND PROCESS
My latest single release, “Hennessy,” was created when one day I asked my wife, after 10 years of being together, to say something over a dance music track I have written. While in my music studio, Daiane was playing around with words (free styling) on the microphone. While recording her, I began to notice something magical was happening. The rhythmic rhymes of Daiane’s voice and her Brazilian flavor (rapping) gave life to the song. Her voice was unique and was on point. This Brazilian woman has skills vocally she didn’t know about. We then collaborated on some lyrics and “Hennessy,” was formed. However, the “Hennessy,” song could not be completed without adding some jazzy flavor and a little funk of my soprano sax which put the icing on the cake. The “Hennessy,” features Carlos Cannon on lead vocals, Brazilian rapper, wife, “DayMdz” aka Daiana Cannon, and “TChi,” on Ab lib and background vocalist. The “Hennessy,” video was created by Chicago’s local artists, videographer- Kevin Hanshaw, Chicago’s Hiplets Ballerinas, and MarkChello’s Dance Group.
ANY PLAN TO HIT THE ROAD?
We are open to future concert venues and are looking forward to tours. Our music consists of dance music of smooth R&B with vocals, Brazilian female rap artist and contemporary smooth sax of Carlos Cannon.
AS AN INDIE ARTIST, HOW DO YOU BRAND YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSIC TO STAND OUT FORM THE REST OF THE ARTIST OUT THERE?
As an indie artist, I brand my music to consist of smooth R&B vocalists, powerful female Brazilian rapper, fused with the funkiest flavor of the smooth jazz/saxophone. All of this is mixed together which form a dance groove vibe that I call SaxaFunk with smooth R&B & BrazilRap. So you’re getting contemporary smooth jazz, R&B vocalists, and the fresh sound of a female Brazilian Rapper.
WHO HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY?
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENESS?
My influences as a saxophonist, I grew up on Grover Washington Jr., Cannonball Adderley, to contemporary jazz artists as saxophonist, Gerald Albright, Boney James, Richard Elliot and Kenny G. As a vocalist, I listen to Kim, Seal, Lita Hathaway and Whitney Houston.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PASSIOINS:
My passion is I love all types of music innovation with a positive message. Music is a universal language that everyone can feel and understand by the beat or the lyrics being sung.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING NEXT IN YOUR WORLD?
I am preparing to release more videos. Stay tuned “GreyGoose,” “BIG DADDY,” and some smooth R&B saxophone Hits in 2022.
Thanks for an awesome interview, Carlos Cannon
Connect with Carlos Cannon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosCannonPage
Youtube: https://youtu.be/T0BKJnh7q3s
Profile: https://www.artistpr.com/members/carlos-cannon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosCannonPage
YouTube: https://youtu.be/T0BKJnh7q3s
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carloscannon
