Nigel Hall and DJ Harrison, two Grammy-nominated musicians with lauded resumes both together and apart, have announced a new album paying tribute to the music of their soul ancestors, Earth, Wind & Fire. The rollout of the new album—The Burning Bush: A Journey Through the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire, due out May 10th—begins today with the release of its first single, the band’s eponymous “Earth, Wind & Fire” from 1976’s Spirit.
As DJ Harrison (Butcher Brown) reflected on the inspiration for the record, his and Nigel’s shared obsession with Earth, Wind & Fire helped kindle their fruitful creative relationship. “Burning Bush is an album that reflects my first encounters with the Nigel Hall in the studio… It was an energy that makes one feel they’ve found a distant musical relative and this record was the nucleus of our musical brotherhood that’s still active to this day.”
Nigel Hall (Lettuce) added, “We were crushed by Maurice White‘s passing, so we thought what better way to release the pain and anguish of losing someone who we consider a king, by honoring him (and the group which was his vision) by paying homage to the music that changed (and continues to change) our lives.”
Hall recounted the organic process of including lead single “Earth, Wind, and Fire” on the album after Harrison had sent a voice memo fleshing out the tune. “We have that kind of relationship where we are usually the first people to hear what the other is working on,” he explained. “Typically, people who are able to do that with each other, have a tremendous amount of trust in the other person. I was sold from the intro, as Spirit is in my top 3 EWF records. We decided we’d finish it and the rest is history.”
Related: In Search Of A Life: Nigel Hall Digs Deep On His Latest LP, ‘Spiritual’ [Review/Interview]
“Our hope is that the listener will use our renditions to research the originals and how amazing the world of EWF actually is,” Hall added. “We are true believers in the fact that, if everyone started their day with at least one EWF song, the world would indeed be a better place.”
The duo’s reimagining of “Earth, Wind & Fire” echoes the 1976 original’s lush, unmistakable string parts via synth pads and a hip-hop-oriented rhythmic refresh. With lyrics that speak to a grandiose picture of existence, it serves as a fitting entrée into this exploration of Earth, Wind & Fire’s expansive and timeless catalog.
DJ Harrison and Nigel Hall had similar upbringings in the DMV area. Hall was born in Washington D.C. to a musical family and began playing keyboards at age five, growing up immersed in his father’s record collection and the city’s vibrant go-go, funk, and soul scene. Harrison grew up in Richmond, VA, which served as the incubator for his “garage punk jazz funk” group, Butcher Brown. In 2021, Hall recruited Harrison and his Butcher Brown cohorts as the backing band on his acclaimed solo LP, Spiritual. While Hall has resided in New Orleans, LA since 2013 and cites the positive impact of living in the world-class music city, this project’s roots lie underneath Jellowstone Studios in Richmond—the site of the initial jams that bloomed into this partnership.
The Burning Bush: A Journey Through the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire will feature guest appearances by Hall’s Lettuce bandmates Adam Deitch (drums) and Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet), Harrison’s Butcher Brown counterparts Corey Fonville (drums), Andrew Randazzo (bass), Marcus Tenney (horns), and Morgan Burrs (guitar), former Butcher Brown guitarist Keith Askey, chart-topping guitarist/producer Brandon Lane, and revered Richmond-based vocalist Sam Reed.
Listen to the first track from the forthcoming DJ Harrison and Nigel Hall Earth, Wind & Fire tribute album below or stream it via the platform of your choice here. Order your vinyl copy and browse exclusive merchandise here.
Nigel Hall, DJ Harrison – “Earth, Wind & Fire” (Earth, Wind & Fire)