Black Nile are brothers Aaron & Lawrence Shaw which have been playing music together for much of their lives, bringing forth a telepathic dynamic that translates heavily into their music and performance, embodying blends of the old and the new. As believers of education and knowledge, they continue to finely tune their pallet and are in constant motion in their musical growth; while being among the newest jazz artists emerging from the exploding LA Jazz Renaissance.

 

Not based on the Wayne Porter song, “Black Nile” is an amalgamation based on two separate words: Black - The very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; and Nile: The longest river in the world originating in East Africa, and is the wifehood of many great civilizations. 

 

The result is how the brothers define their band: Black Nile - “The absorption of reality, propagating Spiritual Energy through the river of conscious minds”.

 

Their music, known as “The Music Of Now” is social music which is not defined by a single genre. 

 

They are the representation of a generation awakened to their history, consequently the identity stems from an awareness of our history, what it means to be black, to be categorized / pigeon holed. Intrinsically this will separate us from following any social trends or fads.

 

The brothers believe their music is a culmination of LA’s progressive sound. It has its own identity because the many influences from their contemporaries and past heroes like, Kamasi Washington, T.D.E, Nipsey Hu$$le, The Pan African people’s Archestra, Tha Dogg Pound, Gerald Wilson George Duke,Vince Staples, Terrace Martin, Thundercat,Walter Smith iii, and Ambrose Akinmusire,

 

Identified as part of the next wave of young talented musicians emerging from L.A. as part of the city’s music Renaissance, Black Nile think It’s exciting being around in this time, and feel they are truly blessed to be included as apart of the Renaissance.