A trio of fantastic albums from Christian Scott – all packaged together! First up is Ruler Rebel – a fantastic step forward for trumpeter Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah – an artist who takes on a new name with this recording, and a vibrant new sound as well! Scott still plays trumpet, but he also works with some electronics and effects, too – in a group that mixes acoustic elements from piano, flute, and percussion with electric work on Fender Rhodes and guitar – all in a sound that's swirlingly soulful, and as enigmatic as you might expect! The music reaches back to some deeper roots, but reworks the sound completely with lots of contemporary elements – and Scott's trumpet takes on a new sort of majesty in the setting – maybe hitting the promise we first saw in his music years back, but with even more focus here. Titles include "Encryption", "The Coronation Of X A Tunde Adjuah", "The Reckoning", "Ruler Rebel", and "New Orleanian Love Song". Next is Diaspora – a set that has Christian Scott really opening with a new sense of pride and power after adopting the Atunde Adjuah name – and blowing here not just on trumpet, but also "reverse flugelhorn", sirenette, and siren – and also using some sonic architecture to open up and expand his sound! Rhythms are a compelling mix of drum programs and acoustic percussion – peppered with work on alto, Fender Rhodes, bass, guitar, and drums – in this groove that's much more sharp-edged and sonically compelling than most other projects of this nature. Titles include "Lawless", "Our Lady Of New New Orleans", "IDK", "Desire & The Burning Girl", "Completely", "No Love", and "The Walk". Last is Emancipation Proclamation – part of Scott's brilliant trilogy that has him reworking his sound even more than before – using his horn in both acoustic and electric settings, and mixing with bits of funk and deeper musical currents – all at a level that's vaguely in the territory of Don Cherry in the 70s, but served up with a vibe that's very much Christian's own! Rather than be buried in the mix of percussion, Fender Rhodes, and other horns here – Scott seems to be set free, and really opens up with both the space of his solos, and the style of his phrasing – which is even more personal than before. The other players are great, too – a shifting lineup who retain the same bristling energy throughout – on titles that include "Ashes Of Our Forever", "The Emancipation Procrastination", "AvengHer", "Cages", "New Heroes", "Videotape", "The Cypher", "Michele With One L", and "Unrigging November". (Jazz, Neo Soul) CD

A fantastic step forward for trumpeter Christian Scott – an artist who takes on a new name with this recording, and a vibrant new sound as well! Scott still plays trumpet, but he also works with some electronics and effects, too – in a group that mixes acoustic elements from piano, flute, and percussion with electric work on Fender Rhodes and guitar – all in a sound that's swirlingly soulful, and as enigmatic as you might expect! The music reaches back to some deeper roots, but reworks the sound completely with lots of contemporary elements – and Scott's trumpet takes on a new sort of majesty in the setting – maybe hitting the promise we first saw in his music years back, but with even more focus here. Titles include "Encryption", "The Coronation Of X A Tunde Adjuah", "The Reckoning", "Ruler Rebel", and "New Orleanian Love Song". (Jazz, Neo Soul) CD

A really genre-transforming record from Thundercat – music that opened the door to a whole generation of experiments on both sides of the Atlantic in years to come! Flying Lotus is a key musical partner here, and the record moves effortlessly between soul and funk, jazz and cosmic currents – nodding at a few moments to hip hop and other contemporary styles, but always with that visionary approach that's made Thundercat such a force to reckon with over the years! And yes, there had been other attempts to hit this territory in the decade before – but this is one of the few records that really feels like it's getting the approach right, and moving the needle forward – thanks to tracks that include "We'll Die", "Tron Song", "Seven", "Oh Sheit It's X", "Without You", "Life Aquatic", "Tenfold", and "Heartbreaks + Setbacks". (New Grooves, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A new year's always a new way to fall in love with contemporary soul music – thanks to the annual gems we always get in this great series from Expansion Records! For decades, the UK label has been one of the best outlets for new music from the neo soul underground – and in recent years, as so many releases are digital-only, their efforts with this collection series is even more important – as provides a massive overview of great contemporary soul cuts that may never make it to any sort of physical format at all! There's other cuts from album released mixed in with singles and more obscure cuts – and as always, the set list is superb – a batch of 35 tracks that include "Dot Dot Dot" by Marquel Jordan, "Something Like This (breakdown rmx)" by Tristan, "Don't Throw Our Love Away" by Ashley Scott, "Love Can Make You Feel So Happy" by Ipso Facto, "Slow Motion" by Kenya with Noel Gourdin, "This Is Worth It" by Blue Soul Ten, "While I'm Alone" by Alton McClain Scarborough, "Such A Good Feelin (Don-E chuffed mix)" by Rich Beggar, "Alone Again" by Ernie & The Family McKone, "Light Up My World" by Victor Haynes, "Soul Steppin (Soul Syndicate rmx)" by Shirley Jones, "Move Me No Mountain" by Lisa Dietrich, "I Believe" by Khari Cabral & Jiva, "Moods" by The R&R Soul Orchestra, "Here We Got Again" by Output/Input, "Now's The Time For Us" by Julian Joseph, and "If It Feels Good" by We Are One X-Perience. CD

A sublime debut from the up-and-coming Cecile McLorin Salvant – a fresh new jazz singer with really rich roots – and a vocalist who's equally at home with both contemporary styles, and modes from the earliest years of jazz! There's a really complex approach to this record – both stylistically and referentially – and Salvant wants to show right from the start that she's a force to be reckoned with – a singer who can resonate with the best of the contemporary jazz underground, yet one who's got a special attention to creative roots as well. The tunes are a really surprising blend of well-chosen nuggets and a few original numbers – and Cecile gets some killer backing from a creative quartet that features Aaron Diehl on piano and Rodney Whitaker on bass. Cecile's got a sound that's right up there with the best work by Dee Dee Bridgewater or Carmen Lundy in recent years – yet an approach that's definitely all her own as well! Titles include "Baby Have Pity On Me", "Woman Child", "Nobody", "Le Front Cache Sur Tes Genoux", "You Bring Out The Savage In Me", and "Deep Dark Blue". (Vocalists, Neo Soul) CD