First published as part of a longer article in the Camden New Journal: https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/change-of-winds
Rob Ryan on the re-birth of a “nu-jazz” pioneer as he switches instruments to ride the new wave of ambient jazz.
There is no stronger indicator of jazz’s current ascendancy than the introduction of a new nightly show (Mon-Fri) on BBC Radio 3 called Round Midnight, hosted by Soweto Kinch and dedicated to this once widely derided genre. I listened to several of the broadcasts in the first week and Soweto – an accomplished tenor player and rapper – is a warm, inviting and, of course, knowledgeable presenter, with an admirably broad choice of music that ranges far and wide, but always includes generous helpings of home-grown talent. It well worth catching, either live, or, if 11.30pm is past your bedtime, on BBC Sounds.
One of the key architects of the current jazz renaissance was Shabaka Hutchings with his bands The Comet is Coming and Sons of Kemet. I still recall the awesome power of his saxophone when I caught the former at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival in Sète, France, the hypnotic riffs blasting across the night sky like aural fireworks. So, like many, I was surprised and a little bereft when Shabaka (he has a single name now) announced he was laying down his saxophone in favour of the flute.
He has spoken extensively about this somewhat surprising decision, and it boils down to this: he felt he had exhausted the possibilities of his sax playing (for now, at least) and he wanted to challenge himself and move the music forward into pastures new. After initial disappointment I found myself admiring the courage of the change and enjoying the music he produced late last year. Shabaka is eloquent, erudite and impassioned about his craft and his questing reminds me of John Coltrane’s search for a spiritual enlightenment in his music. Shabaka’s path, though, is far gentler and more ethereal than Coltrane’s latter take-no-prisoners cosmic explorations, creating serene, ambient soundscapes often featuring the fiendishly difficult shakuhachi, an end-blown Japanese bamboo flute. You can hear his new direction on the just-released album Perceive its Beauty, Acknowledge its Grace (Impulse!), which has a raft of star guests, including Outkast’s Andre 3000, another recent convert to the flute, and Shabaka’s father, reading one of his poems on the last track. It’s an involving album that really rewards repeated listening (just as a guide, if you enjoy Matthew Halsall’s more meditative tracks, you’ll love this). Shabaka brings his shakuhachi (and no doubt some of his 64 other flutes and possibly his dad) to The Barbican on May 9th for what should be an intriguing concert, marking a new beginning for him and his fans. Details: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/event/shabaka.
robtryan 