People’s Champs Members Collaborate on Beyonce's '4,' Play Mercury Lounge

By: Aug. 21, 2011
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Members of the People's Champs horn section, under the name The Superpower Horns, announce their long-standing collaboration with pop megastar Beyonce Knowles on her new album, ‘4'.

Over the last year, The Superpower Horns worked one-on-one with Beyonce, writing and recording numerous horn arrangements for her fourth studio album. Appearing throughout the record, the members of People's Champs also collaborated with pop notables Shea Taylor, Kanye West, Diplo and Andre 3000, all of whom produced or guested on tracks for Beyonce. When asked about the horn section, Beyonce recently gushed, "those guys are genius!"

People's Champs also announce a show at Mercury Lounge on Sunday, August 21st. The shows are in support of People's Champs' debut EP, released in May. Receiving a wave of glowing reviews, critics are calling People's Champs a "New York supergroup!" and "The new champions of globally influenced dance-rock!"

Mixing experimental rock and soul with African and Latin beats, People's Champs are quickly establishing themselves as one of Brooklyn's freshest new bands. Led by trombonist Alex Asher and featuring lead vocals by diva-on-the-rise Cole Williams, People's Champs mash 80s electro-accordion riffs, tasty neo-soul vocals and gritty drum grooves to create a sound that's equal parts Gorillaz, Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti and Ornette Coleman.

Featuring an all-star cast of musicians, members of People's Champs also perform and record regularly with Baja and Dry Eye Crew, Blitz the Ambassador, Slavic Soul Party!, Meta and the Cornerstones, Baye Kouyate, Nation Beat, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Lala Brooks, The Cangelosi Cards, Larkin Grimm, The Rex Complex, Cuddle Magic and many others.

Although People's Champs is a new project, the core musicians of the group began playing together as members of internationally recognized neo-Afrobeat band, The Superpowers. Formed in Boston in 2005, The Superpowers released two records between 2005 and 2009, toured internationally and played over 400 shows, receiving accolades far and wide. People's Champs take their nuanced understanding of Afrobeat and incorporate diverse influences to create this distinct new sound.



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