Album Interview: Brian Jackson–Ali Shaheed Muhammad–Adrian Younge: Jazz is Dead 8

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Brian Jackson (el p, p, f, af)
Ali Muhammad (el b, ky, perc)
Adrian Younge (el b, ky, perc)
Malachi Morehad (d)

Label:

Jazz Is Dead

October/2021

Media Format:

LP

Catalogue Number:

JID008

RecordDate:

Rec. date not stated

The latest in the series launched by producer-multi-instrumentalists Muhammad and Younge brings keyboardist-flautist Brian Jackson into the spotlight. Although best known for his collaborations with Gil Scott-Heron Jackson is also an excellent performer in his own right, as one of his last appearances in the UK a few years ago made very clear. His ability on electric piano and flute was well documented on 1970s classics such as ‘The Bottle’ though this eight-track offering is essentially about grooves with a ‘live breakbeat’ sensibility rather than the melodically rich compositions that defined his superb body of work with Scott-Heron. Indeed the whole set feels like a series of loose jams intended to highlight the funky beauty of analogue keys and synthesisers rather than present pieces constructed with a harmonically developmental character. The results are not unattractive but it would have been interesting to hear the players stretch out a bit more, and maybe also give Jackson the chance to air his very affecting, soulful voice.

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