When it comes to modern jazz contaminated, the name of Te'Amir Sweeney (drummer of Aloe Blacc and collaborator of Kamasi Washington) shines with a particular light. This LP collects his two seminal EPs, creating a sonic journey that connects the golden age of Ethiopian music with the beat of L.A.
The link between the Ethio-Jazz of Addis Ababa and the beatmaking of Los Angeles
Side A (Abyssinia): It's the introduction to roots. Songs like Habesha they immediately project us into a suspended atmosphere, where the distorted piano seems to come out of an old tape found in a flea market in Addis Ababa. The presence of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson to the arches and Rebekah Raff on the harp, which elevate the album to almost spiritual heights.
The album is not a simple tribute. It's one genetic rediscovery. Te'Amir takes up the pentatonic scales typical ofEthio-jazz (the ones that made Mulatu Astatke immortal) and immerses them in a production downtempo e nu-soul of the highest class.
Side B (Abyssinia Rise): Here the pace becomes faster, almost symbolizing a rebirth. Afar Hustle it is the perfect piece for those who love the Ethiopian funk mixed with the finest instrumental hip-hop.
Te'Amir's production plays a lot on "dirty" and saturated textures. On the turntable, songs like Randal In Addis (with Randal Fisher's hypnotic sax) acquire a spatial depth that digital cannot restore. The cover immediately conveys the Afro-futurist aesthetic and connection to the Abyssinian empire. Being the union of two EPs, physical listening allows you to perceive the emotional transition between the first and second parts.
Type: Ethio-Jazz, Downtempo, Instrumental Hip-Hop, Global Beats.
Labels: Tru Thoughts.
Similar Artists: Mulatu Astatke, Dexter Story, Khruangbin, Flying Lotus.