While Lorenzo "Zo!" Ferguson could have been classified as a beatmaker based on his early hip-hop releases and productions for others in the first few years of the 2000s, he has always been a musician first. Foremost a keyboardist, yet one who also plays bass, drums, and guitar, and writes, arranges, and produces his own material, he has subsequently thrived with a sound that has put a contemporized twist on soul and jazz-R&B fusions of the late '70s and early '80s, inspired by multi-tasking originators like Stevie Wonder.  Larry and Fonce Mizell, and Leon Sylvers III. From 2010 through 2019, beginning with ManMade and closing out the decade with FourFront, Ferguson issued solo albums every three years with the support of primary collaborators the Foreign Exchange, and ventured into writing and producing music for film and television, including the series Black Dynamite and Sherman's Showcase. He has since entered the 2020s with the Tall Black Guy collaboration Abstractions (2021). Throughout his childhood, Lorenzo Ferguson balanced his love for music and baseball. The Detroit-area native was drafted as an outfielder by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1996, rounds ahead of future MLB all-stars Orlando Hudson, Juan Pierre, and Barry Zito. Ferguson accepted a full-ride athletic scholarship to Western Kentucky, however, and earned a degree in graphic design. He began his recording career shortly thereafter with Ablyss (2001), the first of several instrumental releases. His profile increased the next few years as he issued albums such as Passion & Definition (2004), Freelance (2006), and the Asylum 7 collaboration Overdue Process (2009), as well as the covers EPs ...Just Visiting, Zo! and Tigallo Love the '80s, and ...Just Visiting Too (2006-2009). All the while, Ferguson was earning a Master's degree in special education and contributing to recordings from the likes of Slum Village, Platinum Pied Pipers, and Little Brother. During the latter half of the 2000s, Zo!'s deepest bond was made with the Foreign Exchange. The group's Phonte had become a regular collaborator on ...Just Visiting. Zo! then produced material for the Foreign Exchange's Leave It All Behind and co-leader Nicolay's City Lights, Vol. 2: Shibuya, and eventually became FE's musical director. The second ...Just Visiting EP was Zo!'s first release through Foreign Exchange Music and led to a triennial series of solo full-length projects. SunStorm (2010), ManMade (2013), SkyBreak (2016), and FourFront (2019) each featured a shifting cast of guest vocalists and songwriters, most commonly Phonte, Sy Smith, and frequent touring/performing partner Carmen Rodgers. The increasingly refined and stylistically adventurous albums were evenly spaced amid Zo!'s work as an educator, and instrumentation and production for other artists, including all things Foreign Exchange and related. Zo! also branched out with music for documentaries and television, ranging from the animated series Black Dynamite to Making SkyBreak and Black White & Blue. He and Phonte wrote and produced many of the songs for Sherman's Showcase, a sketch comedy series for IFC. Joined by a mix of longtime and new associates including Omar and Josh Milan, Zo! and Tall Black Guy teamed to make Abstractions, a brief, feel-good set released in 2021. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Conya Doss’ 9th LP, “Through Rose-Colored Glasses,” reflects constant duality in its meaning. Doss states. “…..For me, generally, the term means perceiving everything as great and focusing on the positives in every situation.  On the other hand, it can also be viewed as giving the perception that all is great but when we look completely THROUGH the beautiful rose-colored glasses, we find a mesh of complexities and imperfections. Often such an outlook is necessary in order to cope…..”. This project is a culmination of all of the above.  The first single, “Not Trading You,” consisting of smooth rhythmic mid tempo vibes, shows that despite the ups and downs of a relationship, the good outweighs the bad. Consistent with this concept is “Long Haul” (Antione Amalbert on Trumpet), which demonstrates unconditional love no matter what.  The song “It Ain’t Easy” featuring the incomparable Eric Roberson, focuses on the strength of two people who realize that relationships are not always perfect or easy to build, but love rules all and is worth it. Conversely, Seeing things only ‘Through Rose-Colored Glasses’ may not be in our best interest. Sometimes it is necessary to see things just as they are. Occasionally with open communication and transparency, things could possibly turn around. This leads to Conya’s second single from this LP entitled “Wishful Thinking,” featuring B. Golden. “Wishful Thinking” is a  feel-good groove that demonstrates that things are exactly how we see them,  whether or not we accept it.  Another song that draws parallels is “Sand Castles” featuring OsKeyz, which stresses that all relationships have been built on a solid foundation. Other standout songs are  “Come on and Get this Love”, “Happy Valley” featuring OsKeyz, “Show Me” featuring Lin Rountree. These grooves are so funky, you will inevitably either bob your head or repeat the hooks.  “Black is Beautiful” provides creative songwriting letting us know that no matter what negative portrayals of black people, Conya reiterates in her messaging that black people always have and will continue to be strong, resilient people.  “Funny” featuring the talented Micki Miller is another soulfully jazzy tune encouraging others to be patient and true love will present itself right on time. Doss, Myron Davis, and Rodney Jones serve as the main producers on “Through Rose-Colored Glasses” in addition to producers B. Golden Micki Miller. Like roses growing from concrete, all of Doss’ album titles are authentically steeped in the spirit of growth, resilience, and grown-woman femininity. “Through Rose-Colored Glasses” continues to build on Conya’s prolific legacy of excellence.