"Who are The Jazz Saints Of Chicago? Well, you know, we are older cats of different faiths- Christian, Jew, and Muslim, and some of us with no faith, and we used to be in the scene, you know, around here in Chicago. We were basically unknown, we never had interest from any record labels or anything like that, but we pressed some things, you know, some singles and an album. We did it ourselves you know, we paid for them and gave them away. We played concerts and we performed in churches and mosques. A couple of us were session guys back then, you know playin paid gigs in the studio once in a while. We got together during the civil rights movement in the 60s and and all that. It was a vibrant time. You know, we all knew- we understood that all people need to be free- black and white. Indians, women, the Chicano brothers and sisters, Puerto Ricans, Gays. All of us. Why should we hate each other? All oppressed peoples should work together for freedom. MLK said injustice anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere- or something like that. So that's how we came together. We believed that. We are all from the Chicago area and we formed with the common goals of freedom, solidarity, love and compassion for all people. You know, a lot of people didn't get us at that time. They didn't understand groups like the Black Panthers and all that. But we are all for peace. A couple of our original members have passed on but the remaining members, we still jam out when we can, you know, and have always recorded things here in the basement. It's cathartic, you know. It's fun. We get a kick out of it! It keeps us young! (laughs) We record to a cassette tape, you know. We are old school. We don't want to be on the radio or the TV. I don't think fame is what we were after. I think we just like this here. We love music. All forms of music. And we love collaboration. It uplifts us. That's a beautiful thing. Especially with young people.

My nephew gave me a CD of a fellow named Madlib and we dig it! We've been sort of, you know, updating our sound a little bit from that. The new sound has kind of this swing to it, you know. Kind of an off-kilter thing happening. Recently we were introduced to a young sister from Yonkers, New York. She is a lovely young lady named Naajidah. Dynamite smile. Artistically she goes by Jidah. She is very unique. She's got a very interesting sound and we had a blast working with her. Great energy. She came down here, and we recorded a song in one take, just like that. And then we added a background track and a string section and the result is this recording. It's not so smooth and polished like the things you might hear on the radio but it's got soul, you know. We all like it and enjoyed making it together in that moment, and, you know, that's what really matters."

-Deacon Turner of the Jazz Saints of Chicago