Video: Brandon Coleman, ‘Giant Feelings’ (feat. Patrice Quinn and Techdizzle)

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Brandon Coleman (photo by Visual Thought)

Love is the message of “Giant Feelings,” a song that’s both immediately direct and complex. Following the claps and singing along happens intuitively, but listen a little deeper and there’s a whole lot of instrument lines to unpack.

It’s from “Resistance,” a new album written, composed and produced by Brandon Coleman, aka Professor Boogie, known for playing keys for Kamasi Washington (who guests here on horns, alongside other guests Patrice Quinn, Techdizzle and several of his music pals). “I wrote ‘Giant Feelings’ for the band … for Kamasi, Miles [Mosley], Ronald [Bruner], Stephen [Bruner] … all those guys. I wrote it for us to play,” says Coleman. “I’ve been waiting to work with a voice like Patrice for my whole career. Her voice is as timeless as Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday, it just radiates love.”

A funky, cosmic fusion of musical genres, the album comes out Sept. 14 on Brainfeeder, who encouraged Coleman to explore the sounds and possibilities he hasn’t had a chance to indulge in his day-to-day work as an in-demand session musician. “I’ve been in the studio a lot in recent years, writing with this or that artist and I always felt constrained, like I had to compromise and submit to a ‘pop’ sensibility,” he explains. “This time I just wanted to create something that was really free … something original … to incorporate all the styles that I represent, because often when I’ve tried to do that in the past it’s been met with resistance.”

Not one to dismiss the opportunities he’s had, Coleman appreciates the A-list artists he’s worked with, including Ciara, Mulatu Astatke, Childish Gambino, Shuggie Otis and Flying Lotus, and gives credit to Babyface for having him on speed dial. “I’ve learned a lot from him, working on countless projects. He would just call me at any time and say: ‘Hey man, I’m in the studio with Aretha Franklin at the piano and I want you to come in and help us arrange some songs.’ And I would be like: ‘Erm OK, I’m on my way’,” he shakes his head and laughs. “Those experiences shaped the way I hear and appreciate music.”

||| Watch: “Giant Feelings”