The first time we heard Jamire Williams, he was serving up an album of solo work on drums – but here, he's a completely different artist entirely – working at the helm of a large ensemble, and with the sort of jazz futurist spin and righteous vibe that makes this album a perfect fit for the International Anthem label! Jamire still plays drums, but he also delivers some vocals, keyboards, and samples – in a large lineup of guests who provide a range of different voices and instruments throughout the set – shifting beautifully with all sorts of messages and moods that bristle with even more urgency than we might have guessed! Titles include "Just Hold On", "Take Time Look Up", "Safe Travels", "Pause In His Presence", "When It Gets Dark", "For The Youth", and "Hands Up". CD

The first time we heard Jamire Williams, he was serving up an album of solo work on drums – but here, he's a completely different artist entirely – working at the helm of a large ensemble, and with the sort of jazz futurist spin and righteous vibe that makes this album a perfect fit for the International Anthem label! Jamire still plays drums, but he also delivers some vocals, keyboards, and samples – in a large lineup of guests who provide a range of different voices and instruments throughout the set – shifting beautifully with all sorts of messages and moods that bristle with even more urgency than we might have guessed! Titles include "Just Hold On", "Take Time Look Up", "Safe Travels", "Pause In His Presence", "When It Gets Dark", "For The Youth", and "Hands Up". LP, Vinyl record album

The first time we heard Jamire Williams, he was serving up an album of solo work on drums – but here, he's a completely different artist entirely – working at the helm of a large ensemble, and with the sort of jazz futurist spin and righteous vibe that makes this album a perfect fit for the International Anthem label! Jamire still plays drums, but he also delivers some vocals, keyboards, and samples – in a large lineup of guests who provide a range of different voices and instruments throughout the set – shifting beautifully with all sorts of messages and moods that bristle with even more urgency than we might have guessed! Titles include "Just Hold On", "Take Time Look Up", "Safe Travels", "Pause In His Presence", "When It Gets Dark", "For The Youth", and "Hands Up". CD

The record we've been waiting years for Jeff Parker to make – a fantastic funky set that shows off a whole new side of his talents! Parker's guitar has been on plenty of great albums over the past decade or two, but this set may well be one of his greatest moments so far – a really unusual, really personal set that takes his music to a whole new level – partly schooled by vintage funk, as you might guess from the cover – but also partly set up in a spirited new direction that propels Jeff farther forward than any other record! Parker plays guitar and a range of keyboards – and the album almost has a laidback Shuggie Otis vibe at points, but is a lot more complex overall – thanks to excellent rhythm work from Paul Bryan on bass and Jamire Williams on drums – who ground the sound, but can take off freely with Parker, too – as does Josh Johnson on alto, flute, and some other keyboards too. The whole thing almost puts Jeff into Robert Glasper territory – in its unique blend of jazz, funk, and soulful currents – but very unique, a genre unto his own, really well-deserved after all these years. The album's brilliant from start to finish, with cuts that include "Executive Life", "Para Ha Tay", "Here Comes Ezra", "Jrifted", "Visions", "How Fun Is It To Year Whip", and "Get Dressed". CD

Mindblowing music from Jeff Parker – sounds that we always knew were part of his core, but which have maybe taken most of his career to emerge! This album follows beautifully from Jeff's previous album for International Anthem – and like that one, it's an explosion of new and old ideas at once – jazz elements with soul currents, all put together with a complexity that lives up to Parker's long legacy in music, but which also has an organic appeal that makes the whole thing come together with effortless ease! There's plenty of sophistication in the sound, but it also sneaks in with lots of grooves that Jeff never had before – including some funky currents that come from Parker's work on keyboards, drums, and samples in addition to his usual guitar – and added drums from Jamire Williams and Makaya McCraven. Titles include "Lydian Etc", "Build A Nest", "Del Rio", "3 For L", "Fusion Swirl", "After The Rain", and "Max Brown". CD

Mindblowing music from Jeff Parker – sounds that we always knew were part of his core, but which have maybe taken most of his career to emerge! This album follows beautifully from Jeff's previous album for International Anthem – and like that one, it's an explosion of new and old ideas at once – jazz elements with soul currents, all put together with a complexity that lives up to Parker's long legacy in music, but which also has an organic appeal that makes the whole thing come together with effortless ease! There's plenty of sophistication in the sound, but it also sneaks in with lots of grooves that Jeff never had before – including some funky currents that come from Parker's work on keyboards, drums, and samples in addition to his usual guitar – and added drums from Jamire Williams and Makaya McCraven. Titles include "Lydian Etc", "Build A Nest", "Del Rio", "3 For L", "Fusion Swirl", "After The Rain", and "Max Brown". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most soulful sets we've heard from Kenny Garrett in years – thanks partly to the presence of Pharoah Sanders in his group! The tracks are all long and open, and really let both Garrett and Sanders get in plenty of solo space – often in ways that are a nice change from previous recordings. The lineup's a quintet – with Pharoah on tenor, and Kenny on both alto sax and bass clarinet, plus a bit of organ and synth as well – which makes for some sweet electric funky touches. Other players include Benito Gonzalez on piano and Fender Rhodes, Nat Reeves on bass, and Jamire Williams on drums – and titles include "The Ring", "Intro To Africa", "Wayne's Thang", and "Happy People". LP, Vinyl record album