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Kamasi Washington: Heaven & Earth
Kamasi Washington
saxophoneb.1981
John Coltrane
saxophone1926 - 1967
Sun Ra
piano1914 - 1993
Granted there's been a terrific amount of hype surrounding Heaven And Earth but there is justification for this inasmuch as the whole work delivers a staggeringly impressive payload, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Sure, there's the schtick of the "hidden" third disc on the tri-sided gatefold CD release, which requires a sharp knife to carefully release it from its sealed cardboard pocket. But the extra, third CD (The Choice), isn't merely a gimmick; the exquisite rendition of Goffin and King's "Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow," sung by Patrice Quinn, attests to this fact.
On CD 2 (Earth), "Will You Sing" provides a near-perfect fusion of choir and a swing-based rhythm. Whilst it's true that Washington is not quite Coltrane (a fatuous comparison, bordering on the heretical) he gets full marks for his sheer openness and lack of guile. Washington's often fiery tenor solos do, at times, bear some similarity to Coltrane's, circa A Love Supreme and beyond, as heard on "Ooh Child." He gives the distinct impression that he really means what he plays and plays that with unbridled verve. "Song For The Fallen" and the freewheeling "The Psalmist" are great examples of his articulate tenor playing.
The big band arrangements are superb too, and whilst the addition of strings might pose an argument that the music is over-glutinous, this is not the case, because this amalgamation works extremely well. Obviously the comparison with
Sun Ra
piano1914 - 1993
There are references to other jazz greats too, obviously with a joyous version of Freddie Hubbard's "Hub Tones," Dontae Winslow spectacularly taking Hubbard's soaring trumpet role, and there's a more subtle allusion to
Herbie Hancock
pianob.1940
Track Listing
CD 1 (Earth): Fists Of Fury; Can You Hear Him; Hub-Tones; Connections; Tiffakonkae; The Invincible Youth; Testify; One of One. CD 2 (Heaven): The Space Travelers Lullaby; Vi Lua Vi Sol; Street Fighter Mas; Song For The Fallen; Journey; The Psalmnist; Show Us The Way; Will You Sing. CD 3 (The Choice) The Secret Of Jinsinson; Will You Love Me Tomorrow; My Family; Agents Of Multiverse; Ooh Child.
Personnel
Kamasi Washington
saxophoneKamasi Washington, Ricky Washington: tenor saxophone; Terrace Martin: alto saxophone; Dontae Winslow, Chris Gray: trumpet; Ryan Porter: trombone; Cameron Graves: piano, keyboards, organ; Jameal Dean: piano; Brandon Coleman: keyboards; Terrace Martin: alto saxophone; Carlitos Del Puerto, Miles Mosely: upright bass, electric bass; Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner: electric bass, Gabe Noel: upright bass, electric bass; Tony Austin, Ronald Bruner Jr, Robert Miller, Jonathan Pinson, Robert “Sput” Searight, Chris “Daddy” Dave: drums; Kahil Cummings, Allakoi Peete: percussion; Patrice Quinn, Dwight Trible, Steve Wayne, Matachi Nwosu: lead vocals. Orchestra: Paul Cartwright, Jen Simone, Yvette Devereaux, Martino, Ray Suen, Yvette Holzwarth, Rocio Marron, Reiko Nakano : violin; Molly Rogers, Britanny Cotto, Chad Jackson, Tom Lea, Morgan Matadero, Caroline Buckman, Landon Jones: viola; Peter Jacobson, Ginger Murphy, Adrienne Woods: cello; Dominic Thiroux: double bass, Amy Sanchez, Laura Brenes: French horn; Greg Martin: oboe; Tracy Wannomae: clarinet; Rickey Washington: flute; Amber Joy Wyman: bassoon; Marc T. Bolin: tuba. Choir: Doctor Dawn Norfleet, Mashica Winslowdynasty, Thalma De Freitas, Taylor Graves, Nia Andrews, Sonnet Simmons, Jackie Fiske, Patrice Quinn, Amaya Washington, Dustin Warren, Steven Wayne, Cameron Graves, Angelo Johnson: vocals.
Album information
Title: Heaven & Earth | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Young Turks
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