The acclaimed jazz saxophonist returns with a genre-hopping emphasis across funk, hip hop as well his excellent big band, an overarching spiritual theme, and collaborators including George Clinton, Thundercat, Taj Austin, Ras Austin, Patrice Quinn, DJ Battlecat, Brandon Coleman, D-Smoke, and André 3000. This is a world of complexity and sensuality as many instruments melt in and out of the album alongside Kamasi’s ever-present sax, an instrument at solo peak perhaps in the 13-minute Road To Self, but also with some fine guest performances. Funk pioneer George Clinton’s voice and presence is palpable on Get Lit, alongside rapping by D-Smoke, while André 3000’s continued love affair with the flute makes for a gentler, beautiful meandering on Dream State, not to mention the powerful, epic build of Asha The First (featuring the intricate bass of Thundercat alongside vocals from Taj Austin and Ras Austin). But perhaps the finest track, is Prologue, which ironically comes at the end, marked by a vigorous frenzy of fabulous drums and percussion by Roland Bruner Jr, Tony Austin, Allakoi Peete and Kahlil Cummings, and particularly the trumpet of Dontae Winslow. Following his last two album triumphs, 2015’s The Epic, and 2018’s Heaven and Earth, another mind-bending musical adventure of scale and fusion, bringing together of some of jazz and funk’s finest. Out on Young Records.
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