Since mid-May, trumpeter/producer/rapper Maurice “Mobetta” Brown has been curating a weekly series of collaborative concerts at Brooklyn’s new Now & Then NYC billed as Mobetta Thursdays.
With two shows each Thursday night at Now & Then NYC (one at 7 p.m., one at 10 p.m.), Mobetta curates a weekly band and DJ bill to perform new material, satisfying covers, and impromptu songs made up on the fly by some of the world’s most talented musicians.
Tonight, Thursday, June 10th, the series continues with two shows featuring De’Sean Jones & KNMDK. Tickets for tonight’s (6/10) edition of Mobetta Thursdays at Now & Then NYC are on sale now. Use the promo code “L4LM” for a discounted price when you purchase tickets ahead of time.
Detroit-based composer and saxophonist De’Sean Jones is a two-time Grammy-nominated arranger and Billboard-charting recording artist. Over the span of 20 years, De’Sean has worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Faith Evans, Snoop Dogg, and Detroit Legends; Marcus Belgrave, The Clark Sisters, Kierra Sheard, and techno pioneers Underground Resistance.
As a composer, Jones has curated an eclectic approach that is widely considered to be progressive and undeniably rooted in the rich history of Black culture. De’Sean Jones’ current projects include KNMDK (knomadik), which features his large ensemble and compositions, the drum-and-bass-inspired Anti-Philosophy, and Project i94 n95, which explores open improvisation with a string quartet.
At Mobetta Thursdays this week, Jones will appear with KNMDK, which features Mike King (keys), Sasha Kashperko (guitar), Dan Pappalardo (bass), Ashton Thomas (drums), Peter Manheim (percussion), and, as per Mobetta Thursdays tradition, some surprise guests. The two June 10th seatings will also feature DJ sets by Toneluvae.
For more information or to purchase your tickets for tonight’s shows, head here.
Growing up in Chicago, Maurice Brown came into contact with greatness in the 8th grade when he met Wynton Marsalis at one of the jazz legend’s seminars. Brown’s promise was evident early on, as he was chosen to participate in the National High School GRAMMY Band, where he was then recruited by Ramsey Lewis to play in his band.
Since then, Maurice Brown, otherwise known as “Mobetta”, has become a renowned player in a multitude of stylistic spaces, working with prominent artists from the worlds of blues, rock, soul, hip-hop, R&B, and beyond including Aretha Franklin, CeeLo Green, De La Soul, Ellis Marsalis Jr., The Roots, Wyclef Jean, and Tedeschi Trucks Band (with whom he won a GRAMMY for Best Blues Album in 2011).
Prior to the pandemic, Brown had been spending his time playing sold-out arenas around the country as a featured touring member of Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals. He also developed a reputation for following up the big arena shows with semi-secret late-nights at local jazz clubs billed as “Maurice Brown & Friends”—and often featuring the same players who had just played with him at the arena down the road.
With Mobetta Thursdays, Maurice continues to capture the magic of late-night jams with world-class players on a weekly basis at Now & Then NYC, located at 290 Meserole Street.
For information on all the upcoming editions of Mobetta Thursdays, head here.