After releasing two renowned EPs, London-based saxophonist, composer, and radio host
Nubya Garcia makes her American debut with
Source for
Concord. She joins London peers
Yazz Ahmed,
Shabaka Hutchings,
Moses Boyd, and
Theon Cross in exporting the scene's kaleidoscopic approach to jazz overseas.
Garcia is accompanied by her working quartet -- pianist
Joe Armon-Jones, double bassist
Daniel Casmir, and drummer
Sam Jones -- in a program of nine striking originals. When assembled, they reflect the music and culture of her Afro-Caribbean upbringing, and her artistic community in a deeply intuitive, disciplined, and personal take on modern jazz.
Garcia co-produced
Source with
Kwes. (
Bobby Womack,
Solange). Her music emerges from these cultural influences and powerfully reflects them to the outside world through the quartet's collective voice. They react and project a historical present tense that regards tradition and innovation as a single, multifaceted entity.
"Pace" is introduced by
Casmir's popping bass vamp.
Jones' choppy snare breaks punch it up, while
Armon-Jones' piano adds a lyric modal dimension before
Garcia enters with the melody. Over nearly eight minutes, the band traverse jazz worlds from
John Coltrane and
Ahmad Jamal to
Herbie Hancock and
Monty Alexander, adding and subtracting intensity from the balanced flow, and inserting Latin and Caribbean musical tenets with deft, reverb-laden production. "The Message Continues" is a lithe, funky exercise in post-bop, albeit one where
Garcia's spiraling modal inventions set
Armon-Jones' Rhodes solo free without forsaking the groove. The title track combines dub reggae, spiritual jazz, and neo-soul thanks to breezy guest vocals supplied by
Ms. MAURICE (
Sheila Maurice-Grey),
Cassie Kinoshi, and
Richie Seivwright (members of
Kokoroko and
Nerija).
Garcia's horn is as beat conscious as it is harmonically astute;
Armon-Jones adds powerful comping and improvisation amid dubwise ambience to dazzling effect. "Together Is a Beautiful Place to Be," is a languid, tender ballad with a remarkable solo from
Casmir. The vocal trio also guests on "Stand with Each Other," adding dimension to a steamy, dank, mysterious dubby duet between
Garcia and
Jones. "La Cumbia Me Esta Llamando" is a set highlight. A collaboration between
Garcia and Bogota's globally renowned female percussion and vocal trio
La Perla, it explores the Colombian folk form as a seamless, raw union of modern lyricism and historical rhythmic tradition. "Inner Game," introduced by Rhodes piano and snare breaks, recalls the celebratory spirt of
Sonny Rollins'
Don't Stop the Carnival in an exploratory post-bop approach to Caribbean music. "Before Us: In Demerara & Caura" also derives from Caribbean sources but moves further afield as it juxtaposes Afro-Cuban rhythms and vanguard jazz.
Garcia's solo is enveloping, emotional, and probing. It initially questions
Armon-Jones' fiery montunos, then affirms them amid
Jones' clattering rim shots,
Casmir's foundation-rocking bass line, and a searing trumpet break from
Ms. MAURICE. There are many fine jazz records coming out of London currently.
Source, with its adventurous, kinetic, and sophisticated approach in wedding modern composition, improvisation, and production to rhythmic and harmonic traditions, is one of the very best. ~ Thom Jurek
