Not a Review: Clint Breeze S.E.L.F
This post was adapted from liner notes written by me to accompany the album S.E.L.F by Clint Breeze
The vocals on this record are challenging to me. It was one of the first things I said to Clint Breeze when he asked me what I thought of his latest musical offering S.E.L.F (Soul. Evolution. Love. Fear.) over cocktails at Living Room Lounge. Then he told me it was his first time singing. That, in many ways, changed things for me.
Before we go any further into these liner notes I suppose it’s important to tell you who the hell I am. I am Ebony Marie Chappel - a sometimes writer, lifelong community servant and full-time lover of more things than we have room to mention…one of those things is music. So when the musical institution that is Carrington Clint Breeze Clinton asked if I’d be willing to write a few words for him, I said yes. Now, I am not an expert at writing about music so I can’t tell you much about the production and harmonies and whatnot. I can however talk to you about how this music makes me feel.
Learning that S.E.L.F was Clint’s first time singing struck a chord with me. Especially given the fact that outside of an endearing phone call with his grandmother and an excellently placed saxophone performance from the legend Rob Dixon, this whole record is all on him. That level of unabashed self-exploration was no doubt spurred on by the isolation and radical disruption of our current age. And that’s not just me waxing poetic. Pay attention to the lyrics. Another note… although there aren’t many other artists featured on this record, I don’t think something like this comes to be outside of, or apart from, community. More on that later.
I took S.E.L.F on a ride with me one solitary Friday night floating from Fonseca Theatre in Haughville to a smooth loop around Monument Circle before routing over to Broad Ripple Avenue. It was balmy out and I rolled my windows all the way down to catch whatever breeze the stingy winds had to offer. Clint’s flawed and earnest vocals paired with his eclectic musical choices provided a perfect soundtrack for the moment. I landed at the Jazz Kitchen as the last track was wrapping up. “Perfect timing,” I thought before walking into one of my favorite music venues for the first time since the pandemic. A few moments later I’d realize just how serendipitous it all was as I sat down just in time to catch most of Sleepy Floyd’s Juneteenth revue which fittingly featured a performance from none other than the man I’m here writing about. And I don’t know if it’s coincidental or just the spirit of Naptown but it all felt good and right and promising.
Clint and I embraced and shortly after he took to the stage, backing vocalist PsyWrn Simone on the drums. Rob Dixon was there too. And so many more. Rocking with each other in the pursuit of their own dreams and the collective desire to see art come to life. The moment reminded me of some silly convo about the lack of a Naptown sound. Anyone with a clue would know the true sound of Naptown is collaboration.
Back to S.E.L.F though. I didn’t know it but I needed to hear Clint tell me to slow my ass down, face it and clean the SPAM out of my spirit. S.E.L.F is here as a generous invitation to each of you to do the same.
Rock out, take care of yourself and love one another.
About Not A Review: I enjoy cultural experiences and sometimes I write about them. I like what I like and though I consider my thoughts to be solid critique, I would never front like I’m some damn Siskel & Ebert.
