Tell us about yourself and your music
Carlos Cannon is known as a smooth jazz saxophonist with three Smooth Jazz CD’s, “Steppin’ Up The Game,” “Takin It Smooth,” and “In The Name of Love.” Until now 2020, he released a Dance/House song called “Hennessy.” The Hennessy song and video are about joy, dance, and having fun. Before his Hennessy release, the native Chicagoan has been making his mark throughout the states and around the Chicago area for more than three-decade as a professional soloist & contemporary jazz artist. Mr. Cannon latest CD released is called, “Steppin’ Up The Game,” is one of the most requested smooth jazz CD in Chicago and is reaching the attention across the states. At the age of 12, Carlos Cannon started playing the bass guitar in neighborhood bands and high school. Inspired by the late Grover Washington Jr., Carlos Cannon eagerly picked up the alto saxophone and became the first chair player in the Paul Robeson high school jazz band in Chicago. Carlos Cannon went on to major in music performance at Illinois State University where he formed his own jazz band and took first place in the state jazz band competition. He later transferred to Roosevelt University and continued his musical studies.
Talk to us more about your latest release
August 2020, I released a single called, “Hennessy.” Although is a drink, the song and video are about joy, dance, and having fun. However, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it affected the music industry wold wide. It caused many artists, bands, musicians, and club owners to shut down their businesses which left the music industry, artists, without work. While the music industry being shut down, I decided to write another genre of music called dance music and started singing. One day in my studio, I was bumping the music of a dance track that I had written. My wife, Daiane came into my music studio. A little history about my wife, Daiane, she is from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. We had been together for over ten years and had been married since 2017. In 2011, Daiane became apart of the Brazilian Chicago Samba Dance Group. In 2015, she became the first-place winner as the “Queen of Chicago Samba,” champion. Daiane is now known as a professional Samba Dancer and Samba Costume designer. Meanwhile, I had to ask Daiana to lay something down on the dance track. While in my music studio, Daiane was playing around with some words (freestyling) on the microphone. While recording her, I began to notice something magical was happening. The rhythmic rhymes of her voice and her Brazilian flavor(rapping) gave life to the song. We began to collaborate on some exchanges of lyrics and “Hennessy,” was formed. However, the “Hennessy,” song could not be completed without having some jazz flavor and a little funk of soprano saxophone which put the icing on the cake.
The “Hennessy,” the song features Carlos Cannon, lead vocalist, Brazilian rapper, wife, Daiane Cannon, Aka, “DayMdz,” and “TChi,” back round and Ab lib vocalists. Lyric is written by Carlos and Daiane Cannon. Music is produced by Carlos Cannon and Key Productions.
What inspired you to write this release?
Like a smooth jazz saxophonist who had released three smooth jazz CD’s, I always wanted to sing but could not find my singing niche. The “Hennessy,” song was created when one day I asked my wife, after 10 years of being together, to say something over a dance music track I have written. While in my music studio, Daiane was playing around with words (freestyling) on the microphone. While recording her, I began to notice something magical was happening. Daiane’s rhythmic voice was unique and was on point, her rhythmic rhythms of her Brazilian culture was flowing naturally. This Brazilian woman has skills vocally she didn’t know about. After recording her unique style of rapping, I infused the Dance track with a funky soprano sax solo groove. We then exchanged some lyrical verses and “Hennessy” was formed. My right-hand man and vocalist, “TChi” gave his solid Ad libs vocals which made the “Hennessy” song, “There it is.”
Describe the writing and recording process
My latest single release, “Hennessy,” was created when one day I asked my wife, after 10 years of being together, to say something over a dance music track I have written. While in my music studio, Daiane was playing around with words(freestyling) on the microphone. While recording her, I began to notice something magical was happening. The rhythmic rhymes of Daiane’s voice and her Brazilian flavor(rapping) gave life to the song. Her voice was unique and was on point. This Brazilian woman has skills vocally she didn’t know about. We then collaborated on some lyrics and “Hennessy,” was formed. However, the “Hennessy,” song could not be completed without adding some jazzy flavor and a little funk of my soprano sax which put the icing on the cake. The “Hennessy,” features Carlos Cannon on lead vocals, Brazilian rapper, wife, “DayMdz” aka Daiana Cannon, and “TChi,” on Ab lib and background vocalist. The “Hennessy,” video was created by Chicago’s local artists, videographer- Kevin Hanshaw, Chicago’s Hiplets Ballerinas, and MarkChello’s Dance Group.
Any plans to hit the road?
We are open to future concert venues and are looking forward to tours. Our music consists of Dance/House music, R&B, Smooth Contemporary Jazz, and Brazilian Samba.
As an indie artist, how do you brand yourself and your music to stand out from the rest of the artists out there?
As an indie artist, 2020, I brand my music to consist of a powerful female Brazilian rapper, R&B vocalists, fused with the funkiest flavor of the saxophone. All of this is mixed together which form a dance groove vibe that I call BrazilRapSaxaFunk. So you’re getting contemporary smooth jazz, R&B vocalists, and the fresh sound of a female Brazilian Rapper. Carlos Cannon 2020 latest song and video released, “Hennessy,” a song of joy, dance, and having fun is climbing the charts fast and worldwide.
Who have you been listening to lately?
Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Brazilian artists, and artists from South Africa like Nomcebo Zikode.
Who are your biggest influences?
My influences as a saxophonist, I grew up on Grover Washington Jr., Cannonball Addley, to contemporary jazz artist and saxophonist, Gerald Albright to Kenny G. As a vocalist, I listen to South Africa vocalist Nomebo Zikode. American artists; Kim, Seal, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Beyonce, and many more.
Tell us about your passions
My passion is I love all types of music innovation with a positive message. Music is a universal language that everyone can feel or understand by the beat or the lyrics being sung.
What else is happening next in your world?
I am preparing to release my next song and video. It is called “GreyGoose.” Unlike my “Hennessy,” song, “GreyGoose” is about, well stay tuned, it will be released early spring 2021.
Thanks for an awesome interview, Carlos Cannon
Connect with Carlos Cannon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosCannonPageYoutube: https://youtu.be/T0BKJnh7q3s
