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Xhosa Cole: Ibeji

By Karl Ackermann
November 13, 2022
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Few places on the global jazz scene are enjoying the enthusiastic resurgence of the genre more than the UK. Names that are becoming more familiar—

Binker Golding

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Binker Golding,

Nubya Garcia

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Nubya Garcia,

Idris Rahman

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Rahman,

Shabaka Hutchings

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Shabaka Hutchings and others—have triggered something of a youth movement. Emerging in that group is yet another top-notch saxophonist,

" data-original-title="" title="">Xhosa Cole. Cole's sophomore release, Ibeji is full of terrific music, wrapped in a missed opportunity.

Ibeji takes its name from the Yoruba religion, and features six percussionists individually contributing to tenor sax duo tracks. Drummer

Jason Brown

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Brown has worked with

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton,

Nicholas Payton

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Payton,

Wayne Escoffery

saxophone, tenor
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Escoffery and

Kurt Rosenwinkel

guitar
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Rosenwinkel. Nigerian percussionist, Lekan Babalola has performed with

Ernest Ranglin

guitar
b.1932

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernest Ranglin,

Branford Marsalis

saxophone
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Branford Marsalis, David Byrne,

Joshua Redman

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Joshua Redman and many other top artists.

Mark Sanders

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Sanders is in trios with

Evan Parker

saxophone, soprano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Parker,

John Butcher

saxophone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">John Butcher, and

Elliott Sharp

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Elliott Sharp; he has also performed with

Roscoe Mitchell

saxophone
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Roscoe Mitchell,

Wadada Leo Smith

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Wadada Leo Smith,

Derek Bailey

guitar
1932 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Derek Bailey,

Henry Grimes

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Grimes,

Roswell Rudd

trombone
1935 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Roswell Rudd,

Peter Evans

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Evans,

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker,

Nate Wooley

trumpet
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Nate Wooley,

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman and

Nicole Mitchell

flute
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicole Mitchell. Cole's brother,

Azizi Cole

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Azizi Cole, a member of the venerable UK free jazz ensemble The People's Orchestra, and improvisational drummers

Corey Mwamba

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Corey Mwamba and

Ian Parmel

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ian Parmel are on hand as less traditional percussionists.

Cole's music bears some resemblance to Rahman and Binker's style, but there is a singular fluidity of performance that melds with powerful sax solos which provide the strongest refrains. "Andy's Shuffle," the duet with Jason Brown, is an exhilarating firestorm. An island flavor permeates "Dance of Ancestra," and "Our Search For" takes a disorientating ride through impulsive pulsing beats and angles. "Native Tongues"' post-modern hard bop and the title track's foray into the African diaspora, demonstrate Cole's wide- ranging fluency of styles.

Here is the rub. Ibeji consists of nineteen tracks; only nine of which are music. The remaining ten tracks are excerpts of discussions between Cole and his collaborators, interwoven with the music. A few are of passing interest from a historical perspective but even those dissipate the high energy of the music. Other snippets such as how often Cole has changed the spelling of his name, are unnecessary and unwelcome distractions. The music of Ibeji and Cole's performances are nothing short of electrifying journeys of creation, organic and highly original. His percussive collaborators are excellent but this is Cole's show. Hopefully, the saxophonist will take a more focused approach to his next project.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Doo-shima; C—L—A—V-E—; Andy's Shuffle; Jazz is About; Hear The; Dance of Ancestra; Masks-Rituals-Ancestors; Our Search For; Mark Skit #1; IG Live 20-04-2021; Native Tongues; CDC; Beat-9.wav; Double Displacement; Mark Skit #2; All Roads; AAC; Alhamdulilah; Ibeji.

Personnel

Xhosa Cole

saxophone, tenor

Jason Brown

drums

Lekan Babaloa

drums

Mark Sanders

drums

Corey Mwamba

vibraphone

Ian Parmel

drums

Azizi Cole

drums

Album information

Title: Ibeji | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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