Chicago electro-funk artist C3zr announces debut album with single “B.B.B”
Chicago electro-soul artist C3zr announces debut album Round Voyage with “B.B.B” ft. Ifeanyi Elswith (via 600 Block Records)
Chicago-based pianist and producer Cesar Pino will be sharing his debut album after years studying and teaching music. Stylizing his name as C3zr for his own musical outlet, Pino is announcing his electrified jazz-funk debut album Round Voyage, which will be released early next year with LA-based label 600 Block Record (Killah Priest, Pugs Atomz).
Featuring a wide array guests to help flesh out his compositions and beats, the artist and producer worked with his frequent collaborator, Chicago-based singer Ifeanyi Elswith, for his lead single “B.B.B.” Standing for blue bell bottoms, the song leans on both of their strengths, with Pino channeling H.E.R. and Kaytranada in the arrangement and production while Elswith delivers her bars in her usual cool girl swagger.
Week in Pop said, “Call it a mood. Call it a vibe. ‘B.B.B’ bursts through to the surface from the underground with a coolness and suave that cannot be denied.” The blog acknowledged Pino’s jazz chops, remarking on the dynamism of the duo, where Pino gave the track its bounce while Elswith “operates with skilled smarts that brings slick statements of truths.”
Pino said, “‘B.B.B’ initially started out as just an instrumental track I was putting together. I was listening to Kaytranada and ENNY and was inspired to produce a track with an Afrobeat or house style. The percussion, particularly the clave, plays a significant role and I’m always a fan of playing outside the key.”
He continued, “The song is also the second collaboration with Ifeanyi. One day when we met up to rehearse for a different song, I was playing the track in the background, which immediately got her attention. From there, she was already brainstorming on lyrics and everything started to connect instantly.”
Ifeanyi Elswith said, “‘B.B.B’ is about my favorite pair of pants that I wore A LOT. People would always compliment how my shape looked in them. One day I wore them with a leotard & a slicked back bun for my hairstyle. It stroked my ego to the point that I wrote raps about this experience.”
Pino began studying piano at just six years old, later earning a scholarship through the Chicago Piano Music Festival at Northeastern Illinois University. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music there, and he even got to tour China with university’s jazz ensemble.
He also co-founded the new Chicago jazz lounge Opus, which opened this summer, and he’ll be playing the venue for his first time this Saturday, September 23rd.
He will be releasing it on vinyl in late winter of 2024. Vinyl preorders are available here.
Biography:
Chicago pianist, songwriter, and producer Cesar Pino writes music with a location in mind, be it a beach, a rooftop while looking up at the sky at night. Or even somewhere in the mainframe of Tron, thanks to a consistent use of electronic drums and synth bass.
Donning the moniker C3zr, Pinos project combines his background as a classically trained and jazz pianist with the electronic funk or soul of his favorite artists like Kaytranada, Daft Punk, Robert Glasper. Anyone could find themselves in the world Pino creates in his electronically produced but soulful debut album, Round Voyage (600 Block Records, early 2024).
When enlisting Rax Tracks’ Noam Wallenberg (The Oh Mys, Woody Goss of Vulfpeck, REVERB) for mixing and mastering, Pino brought other local guests to contribute to the album, ranging from Chicago singers Ifeanyi Elswith and Travis Percy, Jamal Damien on trumpet, and guitarist Paolo Apuli.
Releasing off of LA-based hip-hop, soul, and jazz label 600 Block Records early next year, the album fulfills Pino’s vision to create a record full of ear-worms. Round Voyage captures the warm feelings of love in its various forms, for companions, friends, and family.