Label: Impulse!, 2024

Personnel - Shabaka Hutchings: flute (#3-6,8,9,11), shakuhachi (#2,7), clarinet (#1,9,10), tenor sax (#9); Jason Moran: piano (#1,10); Nasheet Waits: drums (#1,10); Carlos Niño: percussion (#1,5,7,10); Brandee Younger: harp (#2,6,8); Charles Overton: harp (#2-4,6,8,10); Nduduzo Makhathini: piano (#5); Esperanza Splading: bass (#6,7); Rajna Swaminathan: mrudangam (#9); Dave Okumo: guitar (#7); Marcus Gilmore: drums (#9); Floating Points: Rhodes Chroma, vibraphone (#7); Andre 3000: Teotihuacan drone flute (#7); Miguel Atwood-Ferguson: strings (#2,8); Moses Sumney: vocals (#3); Saul Williams: vocals (#4); Lianne La Havas: vocals (#10); Elucid: vocals (#6); Laraaji: vocals (#7); Anum Iyapo: vocals (#11).

For his latest recording, London-based multi-reedist and composer Shabaka Hutchings invited a few guests to record at Rudy Van Gelder’s renowned studio. The resultant emotive dalliance of instrumentation we hear throughout Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace differs from anything Shabaka has done so far, serving as a reintroduction to the artist. For this kind of work, he opted to predominantly play flutes, including shakuhachi, quena, bamboo, and svirel.

Most tracks comprising this reflective album are given spacious treatments, and the opener, “End of Innocence”, is loosened up by Hutchings’ lucid clarinet playing, pianist Jason Moran’s cinematically noir chordal work, and understated percussion investment by Carlos Niño and Nasheet Waits. This same lineup, playing with gentle jazz colors, shape “Kiss me Before I Forget”, further illuminated by the voice of British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas.

The combination of flute and the heavenly harp sounds of Brandee Younger and Charles Overton adds an extra layer of feeling in pieces like “As the Planet and the Stars Collapse”, a tearful embrace delicately crafted with strings, “Insecurities”, featuring vocals by Moses Sumney, and the closer “Song of Motherland”, which provides a silky tapestry for the poetic impulses of Hutchings’ Barbados-born father, Anum Iyapo.

The entrancing South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini contributes to the sheer contemplation of “The Wounded Need to be Replenished”, while “Body to Inhabit” and “I’ll Do whatever You Want”, both featuring bassist Esperanza Spalding, are more fleshed-out selections. The former also features New York City rapper Elucid, while the latter expands instrumentation with the presence of electronic music producer Floating Points, who plays Rhodes Chroma here, flutist Andre 3000, drummer Marcus Gilmore, guitarist Dave Okumu, and vocalist Laraaji.

One of the strongest pieces on the album is “Breathing”, a duo effort between Hutchings - in command of a plethora of flute, clarinet, and saxophone overdubs - and mridangam player Rajna Swaminathan. The eclectic jazzy vibes are elevated by a searing saxophone solo that should leave no one indifferent.

Liberated from any pressures or expectations of how his music should sound, Hutchings puts a charming spin and just enough sheen to blend strains of jazz, folk, world music, and other contemporary and ancient elements he chose to express himself.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - End of Innocence ► 02 - As the Planet and the Stars Collapse ► 09 - Breathing