It’s hard to believe that this is only the second studio album from tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia, such is her effortless sounding, voluptuous playing and compositional skill. The range of moods here, too, often takes others a lifetime to perfect.
‘Clarity’ for example, is a slow-burning dreamscape with a hypnotic melody line. The shimmering ‘Solstice’ contains knotty brass, while ‘The Seer’ is wild and untethered, bolstered by fiery drumming from Sam Jones.
The influences range from John and Alice Coltrane to dub, and guest collaborators here include Ezra Colective’s Joe Armon-Jones on keys, sounding glorious on the contemplative ‘In Other Words, Living’; and Esperanza Spalding, who lends her sultry vocals to ‘Dawn’. Maybe, on the strength of this beautiful record, Garcia will headline Glastonbury next year.
Out now via Concord Jazz.
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