Hugh Masekela & Boss Selection – ‘One Of These Days’
Hugh Masekela & Boss Selection also known as Sunny Levine have collaborated on a track for the producer’s new thirteen track album.
For his new album Boss Selection explored various avenues of his production skills through a good number of collaborations.
The Hugh Masekela & Boss Selection track is titled ‘One Of These Days’ and features our very own Bra Hugh’s vocals over a track rich with synths and piano.
“Hugh is, and always has been, ‘Uncle Hugh’ to me—he and my dad have been friends since 1964. I so badly wanted him on this record but knew it would be a bit tricky because of his touring schedule. I then found out he was going to be in town and started to get something ready. My dad had some piano chords that he sent me over an email, I took them, flipped them and made it into a cool little track.” Said Boss Selection to OkayAfrica
The Hugh Masekela & Boss Selection collaboration also has an endearing story behind how Sunny got the legend to work with him.
“I then figure that I wouldn’t really have the time to sit and write a tune with Hugh so I got into character and tried to write my very best “fake Hugh lyrics” and phrased it how I thought he would sing it. I sang it in his voice (and accent) to act as a demo. Hugh, with my Dad, met me at the studio the next day and he thought he was just gonna play a little trumpet and be done. But, then I told him I wrote the whole song for him to sing. I played it for him and he smiled all big and mischievous, “Sunny, you stole my shit. I’m gonna sing the shit out of it, then I’m gonna sue you…”
Like an old school star Hugh seemingly put it all down in one take and was out of there in time for dinner so to speak…
“He did sing the shit out of it, played some horns, and was out of there in an hour and a half. I got lucky that the tune worked so well. It’s one of those moments where you feel like you know what you’re doing, and you’re in full command of your abilities. But let’s not get carried away. I just got lucky that day.”
Lucky he was for sure, it’s quite something to get the opportunity to work with Masekela even if you did grow up calling him uncle.
Boss Selection’s Volume One is officially out and features collaborations with Orelia, Rashida Jones (Quincy Jones’ daughter), Brenda Russell, and others.
Buy Hugh Masekela & Boss Selection – ‘One Of These Days’ here.
