A remarkable, substantial, powerful and emotional release by the US singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist, channelling the words of the influential African-American writer, and tackling race and gender issues, with guests including Jamaica-born poet Staceyann Chin and soul singer Justin Hicks. It’s an album structured as a double album of four evolving sides and phases, mixing neo-soul, gospel, jazz, funk and hard-hitting, passionate spoken word, all underpinned by Ndegeocello’s smooth, distinctive bass and an outstanding group of musicians, including Josh Johnson on saxophone, Chris Bruce on guitar and production, Paul Thompson on trumpet, and further spoken word by Hilton Als. Baldwin’s tone, nailing issues biting issues of inequality and broader philosophy with visceral prose, comes through throughout, particularly his timeless work, The Fire Next Time, as well as that of other black writers and thinkers including the feminist Audre Lorde. But Chin really picks up the baton with stinging power, especially on tracks Raise The Roof, fuelled by Black Lives Matter, and gender issues on Tsunami Rising. Hicks is particularly strong on the Marvin Gaye-esque soulful Love, opener Travel, and Eyes, from which the cover art is inspired. This is an album filled with beautiful arrangements, but also resonant, articulate anger and unassailable truths. With other significant tracks from On The Mountain to a must-listen release which remains as resonant today as when Baldwin, who died in 1987, was also at his peak. As Ndegoocello puts in of Baldwin: “He's very prophetic in the sense that we're at a breaking point, and I think much like mental illness in the individual, if you build your house on a foundation of sand, it's bound to fall apart. I think that's what's happening in America.” Out on Blue Note Records.
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