Instrumentals JID019

Jazz Is Dead celebrated the end of its first season (2021) with JID09 The Instrumentals, offering versions of tracks issued on volumes by Roy Ayers, Marcos Valle, Joao Donato, and Gary Bartz. Multi-instrumentalists/label bosses Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge issued it under their names, and relied heavily on the source tracks, stripping out their legendary collaborators vocals. Two years later, the label closed out its second season following triumphant titles by Katalyst, Jean Carne, Phil Ranelin, and Wendell Harrison, drummer/composer Garret Saracho, Lonnie Liston Smith, and drummer Tony Allen (posthumous). The producers appear on virtually every release, and more often than not co-write with their guests, play many of the instruments, and guarantee a level of professional accompaniment for the originators present on the labels recordings. JID019 Instrumentals differs from its predecessor. All ten selections were co-written by Muhammad and Younge with either Carne (Vol. 7) or Smith (Vol. 3). The tunes (selections from their individual volumes) were re-recorded with stunning sound and production, and given crystalline mixes. Set opener "Come as You Are" was co-composed with Carne; its original appeared on JID012. Here its a monstrously bass-and- Rhodes-driven jazz-funk ditty with Muhammad on Rhodes piano, drummer Greg Paul laying down fingerpopping accents and breaks, and killer alto and sopranino sax playing from Younge. "Love Brings Happiness" features Smith on acoustic piano alongside Muhammads Rhodes. It reflects Smiths lasting influence on the pianists tenure with Pharoah Sanders. Younges silvery, psychedelic guitar playing hovers above interwoven keyboards and popping electric bass, as Paul becomes the engine. Younge also adds synths, clavinet, vibraphone, and percussion to the flowing, expansive melange. "Black Rainbows" is an ecstatic exercise in spiritual soul-jazz with glorious Rhodes and mono synths from Younge, a complex, Latin-tinged bassline from Muhammad, anchored by the unshakeable Paul. On Carnes "The Summertime," they add just enough Mellotron, electric guitar, and popping bass to Mekala Sessions drumming; it effects a profound change in texture and dimension. "Love Can Be" features Smith on Fender Rhodes. With Paul on drums, Younge plays everything else -- Hammond B-3, saxophones wah-wah electric guitar, etc. He assists Smith in expanding the harmonic melody from midtempo R&B ballad into a blissed-out jazz-funk jam. "People of the Sun" is an exercise in classy, 21st century fusion. Younge plays keys, saxes, flute, guitar, sitar and celeste atop Muhammads virtuosic electric bass playing and Sessions constantly rolling, breaking drums. "Cosmic Changes" is an intensely progressive spiritual fusion number showcasing Smith on Rhodes, and Younge on everything but drums (Paul). "Black Love" is exquisitely delivered by the trio of Session, Muhammad, and Younge. It transcends the original vocal presentation on JID012, melding sophisticated neo-soul with bright, hooky, electric jazz. JID019 Instrumentals is a fitting conclusion for the duos season: Its creatively inspired, sonically imaginative, musically tight, and wonderfully accessible to fans of jazz, hip-hop, funk, and R&B. ~ Thom Jurek