Presto...
As the pioneer behind the critically-acclaimed independent label
Concrete
Grooves, Presto has put forth several selections reflecting
his eclectic range of influences, including DJ Presto "Breakin
Concrete", V/A "Impressions on Concrete", LOWD
"Calligraphy", Presto "Jazz Juice", Presto
"Inflight Instrumentals", V/A "Next Impressions",
Kim Hill "Right Now", Presto "Magic LP",
and Presto "State of the Art". This extensive discography
is especially impressive when one considers the quality of each
release. Never one to be swayed by trends, Presto has always
been able to focus his energy on creating quality music--songs
that will withstand the test of time and eventually find their
place among the crates of futureDJs. Such versatility is evidenced
in the score of artists he has worked with, including such luminaries
as Sadat X, Large Professor, CL Smooth, T Weaponz, Fatlip, O.C.,
Sach, Kim Hill, Blu, LOWD, Mr. J Medeiros (the Procussions),
Raashan Ahmad (Crown City Rockers), DJ Smash, and Nobody as
well as his work on Mark
Farina's Mushroom Jazz series and his musicianship in the
Wayward Saints.
Mr.
Montes, started his career in music as an adolescent
during Hip-Hops golden years of 1987’, 88’ and 89’
and during this time, he like most of the nation was introduced
to a new form of music called Rap and the tools that powered
it. One tool that stood out the most was the E-Mu Systems SP-12
drum machine which he purchased and learned to use with no guides,
manuals or even word of wisdom yet his proficiency with the
drum machine grew and so did his love for music. Rap music also
re-introduced Montes to the Soul, R&B and Jazz music genres
as he tirelessly searched through his mothers 45's for loops
and sounds to feed his creative hunger. In 1991 Montes joined
with 2 of his friends to form a rap trio called Thurd Khind.
The name came from their space age lyrical content and beats,
which were powered by Mr. Montes, underground producer Masaki
Berhinger and Gordon Jones (who produced for Bobby Brown). After
a few years of making demos and performing, the trio spent what
seemed like a day on the Scotti Brothers label and subsequently
disbanded to pursue other creative endeavors. Several years
later, Mr. Montes emerged under a new moniker, “The Arsonist,”
along with 2 long time friends and backed by New York Giants
Strong Safety Sean Williams. During this time he worked mostly
as an in-house engineer for artists such as Bell Biv Devoe ("Home
Alone"), Jesse and Trina Powell and Patrice “Buttaphly”
Stewart (Whitney Houston, "One of Those Days") but
still, he longed to explore his own potential as a Hip-Hop producer
and an artist. Being from the West Coast, his lyrics were now
more autobiographical and explicit than most artist doing his
style of Rap, which walked in accordance with his lifestyle,
but his understanding of the Hip-Hop culture allowed him to
remain lyrical yet loyal to his own truths as an MC. This combination
of beats and rhymes developed into a sound that was more like
his fingerprint as opposed to the monotony of other funk/synth
sounds of the late 80’s and 90’s that accompanied
most of the rap from Southern California. With very few West
Coast record labels opening the door for artists other than
Gangsta Rappers, Montes decided to perpetuate to his own roots.
He knew he would have to do this independently, so he decided
to leave The Arsonist to showcase his own talents which would
segue into an independent imprint called, Private Stock Entertainment
Group. Mr. Montes immediately went back to his rap roots with
the help of former Thurd Khind member Josh Theory and they released
an independent EP in late 2002 called “Bounce Back”
which landed an insturmental called "Fresca" on Concrete
Grooves', Impressions on Concrete in 2003. That placement evolved
into many more collaborations with Presto and Concrete Grooves
and would eventually lead to Presto and Mr. Montes officially
collaborating under the name, Genre Jazz in 2006. Although his
tools have changed from SP-12 to MPC, with songs like, "Karma"
and "Searching," featuring Thurd Khind, Mr. Montes
feels like he's not just bringing back the "Old School
Hip-Hop," but he's bringing something new sonically and
progressive to Rap and R&B as a producer, MC and engineer.