Energetic, infectiously positive new album by the outstanding five London jazz musicians, infusing also funk and African influences, and including guests rappers Kojey Radical and Sampa the Great, and singers Emeli Sandé and Nao. This feels very much an ‘as live’ album as opener Life Goes On is preceded by studio chat, but instantly Sampa the Great leads out this excellently tight groove with added trumpets, a great track that pushes the difficulties of lockdown behind us. And so it continues with the Latin piano and trumpet rhythms of Victory Dance, while the voice of the late great Nigerian drummer Tony Allen announces at the beginning of No Confusion (with Kojey Radical) “I’m playing jazz my way”. Indeed they are, with unstoppable joy and relish, with the titles summing up and matching this ethos - Welcome To My World, Togetherness, Ego Killah, Smile, LIve Strong and onwards. The beautiful Siesta with Emeli Sandé is quieter, gentler number, but keeps the positive aflame. An uplifting experience decorated with brilliant musicianship. Out on Partisan Records.
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