Nick Gordon is a music executive and the founder of Love, Velma, an underground jazz and cannabis lounge in Ellenville, New York. He describes Love, Velma as “a private social club located in a secret rumpus room… for fans of high–quality live music and the performing arts.”
What Is Love, Velma? A Community Of Genre-Breaking Artists
Emerging in the spring of 2021 as an oasis for artists and listeners alike, Love, Velma took its inspiration from New York City jazz clubs, after-hours joints, cocktail lounges, and loft dance parties that thrived from the 1940s to 1970s. The venue has hosted genre-busting artists like Kassa Overall, Madison McFerrin, The Mattson 2, Fred Thomas from the JBs, and Mike Dillon’s Punkadelick. Its mission statement is: “We are a community focused on inclusivity, artistic freedom, safety, and joy.”
Meet Love, Velma Founder Nick Gordon
Outside of Love, Velma, Nick Gordon has served in executive artist development roles at some of the defining music distribution companies of his generation, including The Orchard, Caroline (now Virgin), and Symphonic.
Nick Gordon's "Love, Velma Presents" Weedsday Playlist
For his Weedsday Playlist, Nick Gordon decided to introduce Honeysuckle’s readers to artists who make up his swinging, smoking-hot community. “Love, Velma presents: Let's smoke grass and groove out! These 5 tracks will funkify your high with innovative artists making groundbreaking new music.”
Jahari Massamba Unit - "Massamba Afundance"
Jazz pirates Madlib and Karriem Riggins make up this off and on again project that pushes forward the wonderful world where jazz and J-Dilla meet up to smoke up.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Black Buttafly - "Imagine"
A Velma “one to watch” is Kayla Childs, AKA Black Buttafly, [who] is a pianist/producer/vocalist with delightful soul/R&B instincts and influences. “Imagine” will have your head nodding in your chair.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Carrtoons Featuring Rae Khalil - "Grace"
Blowing up even as I write this, Ben Carr’s Carrtoons project blends super-duper groovy soul/funk with gorgeous melodies and an overall simply delicious sound. Originally from Rosendale, NY!
Click here to play on Spotify!
Kassa Overall - "Ready To Ball"
First establishing himself as a go-to jazz drummer and then kicking the restrictive doors of jazz wide open with his album Animals, Kassa came to Love, Velma last June and put on a show that was at times golden age hip-hop, experimental-jazz, and a healthy dose of Prince and The Time.
Click here to play on Spotify!
BIGYUKI - "Neon Chapter"
[Having played] Love, Velma on March 8, 2024, Masayuki Hirano aka BIGYUKI is on the frontlines of a new generation of artists/producers working within the jazz/hip-hop/r&b genres. He’s worked with A Tribe Called Quest, Bilal, Talib Kweli, Kassa Overall, and more.
Click here to play on Spotify!
For more about Nick Gordon and Love, Velma, visit lovevelma.com.
What are your favorite Weedsday tracks? Tell us about them - reach out at @honeysucklemagazine on Instagram!
Find Out More On Social
--
Featured image: Nick Gordon, founder of Love, Velma (C) Love, Velma
