The strong affirmation of the title can be taken a number of ways. Here is the work of an immensely talented composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, who, for the most part, has a somewhat marginal status in contemporary black music. Many do not know who Brian Jackson is. And yet for others he will be indelibly defined as one of the most important collaborators of Gil Sott-Heron, and let’s not forget that they had joint billing on 1970s masterpieces such as Winter In America, It’s Your World and Bridges. Given Gil’s passing in 2011, this CD by Jackson is fascinating not just as a link to the revolutionary poet, but as a sequel to the heights the two men scaled together. Interestingly, the other key member of the crew, the electronics innovator Malcolm Cecil, who did startling work under the name TONTO, is also involved.

From the first tune of a set of very consistent material, Jackson proves to be the man with an ability to create groove and melody that compares favourably to the Stevie Wonders and Donny Hathaways of the world. There is a deep, yearning soulfulness in themes that have the imprint of past glories but also mark an evolution in terms of production. The peak is a fabulous version of the African-Caribbean folk anthem ‘Mami Wata’, which has the kind of rhapsodic, rippling kalimba motif, outer-space hisses of synthesizer, scratchy clavinet, and hard percussive kick that would set any dance floor alight. This then is Brian Jackson, as he has been for several decades and is today, with his illustrious history very much relevant to contemporary black music. Vinyl available from July.