Mystic Journey

Josef Leimberg—a Los Angeles-based artist, producer, and trumpet player—has carved an exceptional path in music, seamlessly blending jazz, funk, hip-hop, and soul into colossal soundscapes. His journey began in the early 1990s with the group Mad Kap, where he honed his skills as a trumpet player and producer. Over time, he produced rap legends like Freestyle Fellowship and Snoop Dogg, solidifying his place in the West Coast hip-hop production scene. A pivotal moment came in 2014 when Leimberg, under the moniker LoveDragon, joined forces with Terrace Martin, producing the breadth of Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning album, *To Pimp a Butterfly*....

Josef Leimberg—a Los Angeles-based artist, producer, and trumpet player—has carved an exceptional path in music, seamlessly blending jazz, funk, hip-hop, and soul into colossal soundscapes. His journey began in the early 1990s with the group Mad Kap, where he honed his skills as a trumpet player and producer. Over time, he produced rap legends like Freestyle Fellowship and Snoop Dogg, solidifying his place in the West Coast hip-hop production scene. A pivotal moment came in 2014 when Leimberg, under the moniker LoveDragon, joined forces with Terrace Martin, producing the breadth of Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning album, *To Pimp a Butterfly*. Leimberg’s foundational work on *TPAB*—from his trumpet performances to his distinctive baritone vocals—earned unanimous global acclaim. Leimberg's evolution continued in the form of his 2016 solo album debut, *Astral Progressions*. Released on Alpha Pup’s World Galaxy jazz imprint, *Astral Progressions* combined jazz fusion, world music, and R&B influences, resulting in a captivating blend of sonic textures and meditative introspection. Leimberg's new double album, *Mystic Journey*, is an essential, timeless document of sonic spirituality and community. It features a cast of jazz goliaths (Kamasi Washington, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Dwight Trible, Bubby Lewis, et al.) with a duration exceeding two hours. Leimberg's chosen voice, the trumpet, resonates with a commanding presence as he engages in an eloquent dialogue with his collaborators. Through *Mystic Journey*, Leimberg invites us into his evolving musical realm, where every note is a step toward transcendent understanding. The album’s release, eagerly awaited by devotees and newcomers alike, promises to solidify Josef Leimberg's stature as a vanguard of contemporary fusion artistry.