KAMASI WASHINGTON: Heaven and Earth
Young Turks, 2018

EPIC JAZZ – With so much talk about Washington as a savior of jazz, so much mainstream attention, so many festivals headlined, it's easy to forget that this is only his second major release as a leader. But he justifies the hype. As on "The Epic" (2015), Washington’s vast vision and fire-breathing sax are matched by a huge, virtuoso ensemble and (mostly) wordless choir, but he's been honing and focusing that sound. The music blends old-school spiritual and soul-jazz with fusion and afro-futurist grooves. It soars and rumbles, slices and relaxes, runs hot and cool. Just great stuff all around.

All good! Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 1, 2, 3, 8 // Disc II – 4, 6, 7, 8

DISC ONE : EARTH

1. 9:44 – uptempo call to revolution: soulful political vox, rolling piano, fiery sax
2. 8:55 – chugging uptempo: synth fusion gets wild, sax grooves & screams
3. 9:11 – red-hot version of Freddie Hubbard classic: trumpet & sax stretch out
4. 8:25 – relaxed space groove, lush choir, horn solos; guitar soars in 2nd half
5. 9:25 – warm midtempo: sax leaps skyward, piano hops & rolls, chill ending
6. 9:54 – free intro, relaxed soul stroll, friendly sax rises, swift bass, fuzzy end
7. 5:45 – happy but very busy soul groove with breathy vocal, 2nd half rises up
8. 9:51 – striding uptempo rhythm: resolute feel, tight horn solos jab & weave

DISC TWO : HEAVEN

1. 10:32 – surfs the cosmos: serene w/ busy undercurrents, solo sax near end
2. 11:08 – propulsive r&b/latin: processed vox, bubbling trombone & sax solos
3. 5:59 – stripped-down jazz-funk groove adds choir, swaggering horn solos
4. 12:42 – ballad melody vs quick rhythm: sax speeds up, swirling piano/keys
5. 8:52 – spiritual ballad with fem vocal, speedy solos but relatively restrained
6. 7:19 – quick funky beat holds steady for jabbing horn & drum solos
7. 6:52 – striding groove, strong choir: piano & sax dig in, turns huge & heroic
8. 10:14 – solo piano, then future funk under slow spiritual choir, pensive solos

[ Fo ] - 6 July 2018