Sly5thAve ft: Jonathan Mones - No, No, No Pt. 2 (Single)
“No, No, No Pt. 2 feat. Jonathan Mones” is the new offering from Brooklyn-based producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Sly5thAve. His reimagining of the Destiny’s Child track exemplifies his innovative musical approach and his knack for revitalising beloved classics.
Sly5thAve will be performing live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London (30th March 2024) and Band on the Wall, Manchester (31st March 2024).
His first solo music since ‘What It Is’, “No, No, No Pt. 2” follows Sly5thAve’s critically acclaimed collaborative projects ‘Agua de Jamiaca’, with Roberto Verástegui, and ‘Somebody’s Gotta Do It’ with JSWISS. With a core underground following, he has also been backed by famed tastemakers including Jarobi White (A Tribe Called Quest), Dr. Dre, Questlove and The Roots and actor Martin Freeman.
Sly5thAve’s prolific passion for collaboration continues in the rendition of “No. No, No Pt. 2”. The song originally achieved iconic status through the collaboration of Destiny’s Child and Wyclef Jean, soundtracking school dances and car rides alike. Sly5thAve’s inventive reinterpretation delves into one of the song’s sources from Barry White’s “Strange Games & Thangs”, resulting in an artful meld of disco from the original and hip-hop from Destiny’s Child. Adding to these disco-infused tinges, Jonathan Mones delivers a saxophone solo, showcasing his exceptional talent, while channelling the spirit of Maceo Parker.
The track opens with a solo trombone introduction, evoking the Club Casa Chamber Orchestra’s style. Sly5thAve’s urge to wander guides the ear through the use of 808s and hats in the second verse, leading to an unexpected turn at the bridge, where a brass chorale akin to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is introduced. A standout moment is an impromptu rap by Domenica Fossati: “my favourite thing about this song is the rap that Domenica (flautist) does at the end. It’s a complete surprise and was unplanned. She just overdubbed the vocals as a joke, but I heard it and immediately thought, ‘Yo, we gotta use this’” Sly5thAve adds.