Rainbow Blonde Records announces its first US tour featuring label stars Taali, Ben Williams and José James. With a collective of innovative musicians (including keyboardist Big Yuki, guitarist Marcus Machado and drummer Jharis Yokley), RB Live showcases the fearless visionary spirit of a label dedicated to the best in R&B, indie pop and jazz.

“Rainbow Blonde is about freedom of expression,” says James. “Every artist on this label has something unique and powerful to say and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Label co-founder and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter/producer Taali will debut new songs from her forthcoming album “taali.” (out Sept 9th). The self-titled album is a stunning combination of both her NYC singer-songwriter roots and her LA indie pop sensibilities, referencing artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Regina Spektor, Beck and Joni Mitchell. Created between New York, LA, Sfinari and Amsterdam, the album reveals the vision of a world traveler, exploring hard-won personal revelations through a landscape of exquisitely woven synths, strings and pristine vocals

Grammy Award winning bassist and vocalist Ben Williams will perform songs from his Rainbow Blonde debut “I Am A Man.” The album boasts a humid and hazy sound that recalls Soulaquarian albums released by The Roots, Erykah Badu, Bilal, D’Angelo, Common, and Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor. “I wanted to make this not just a musical statement, but sonically, I wanted to dig into a different sound. I wanted this record to deal with the past, present, and future,” Williams says. On I Am A Man, he makes a grand departure from the mostly acoustic instrumental settings of his previous albums and brings his love for modern R&B and hip-hop and his socio-political awareness to the fore with mesmerizing vocal-centric songs that will surely raise his profile higher in modern soul and rap circles. 

Closing out the night, José James will perform songs from his album “No Beginning No End 2,” a future soul classic featuring collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Ledisi, Lizz Wright and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. “I’ve waited a long time to share this music with my fans” says James. “But it’s worth the wait: This is the right moment for this music and for this label.”

Tour dates:

6.09 – DC, City Winery | Tickets

6.10 – Philly, City Winery | Tickets

6.11 – Portsmouth, NH Jimmy’s on Congress | (Tickets available 3/27/22)

6.12 – Boston, City Winery | Tickets

In a world of increasing uncertainty, Rainbow Blonde is proud to move with the times. Join us on August 13th as we present livestream concerts by Taali and José James live from the legendary Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. This special live multi-camera performance will be filmed by the award winning Framework Productions and styled by Art Comes First ©️.

Tickets available here: https://noonchorus.com/jose-taali/

9pm Taali // solo set - EP release of “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” 
Taali - vocals, keys 

9:45pm José James // live band set - LP release of “No Beginning No End 2”
José James - vocals
Taali - vocals
Marcus Machado - guitar
Big Yuki - keys
Ben Williams - bass + vocals
Jharis Yokley - drums

August 13th | 9pm EDT | 9pm BST | 9pm JST

Grammy-winning bassist, composer and bandleader Ben Williams released his sociopolitically charged new album I AM A MAN today via Rainbow Blonde Records. Prior to the release, he shared his powerful rendition of the civil rights classic "We Shall Overcome" via Billboard and soulful single “If You Hear Me.” The album title is a reference to picket signs held during Memphis’ historic 1968 African American sanitation workers’ strike and is Williams’ most poignant statement yet. He'll be celebrating the release with a show tomorrow at Nublu 151 in New York, before embarking on an international tour - dates here and below.

Listen: I AM A MAN

Tour Dates

2/8: New York, NY @ Nublu 151 (Album Release Show)

3/19: Washington, DC @ City Winery 

3/20: Boston, MA @ Scullers

5/29-5/31: Tokyo Japan @ Cotton Club

6/1: Nagoya, Japan @ Nagoya Blue Note

6/8-6/9: Los Angeles, CA @ Blue Whale

6/10: Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa Jazz

6/11-6/13: San Francisco, CA @ Black Cat 

“Instead of just lashing out, I wanted to turn the mirror on us and show the world the complexity of our humanity as Black American men. I wanted to discuss how we process our daily lives – mentally and spiritually.” - Ben Williams

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, acclaimed Grammy-winning bassist, composer and bandleader Ben Williams today shared his powerful rendition of the civil rights classic "We Shall Overcome" via Billboard. With Frank Ocean-esque R&B production and a world class band, the track is a unifying call of the moment that grounds us in history, present, and a continuously hopeful future. It follows first soulful single “If You Hear Me” from his upcoming album I AM A MAN, out February 7, 2020 on Rainbow Blonde Records. The title is a reference to picket signs held during Memphis’ historic 1968 African American sanitation workers’ strike and is Williams’ most poignant, sociopolitical statement yet. 

Listen / Share: “We Shall Overcome”