Back catalogue: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz/Nu Soul

Review: To red and black splatter vinyl comes Nubya Garcia's latest full-length record Odyssey, out of which which a nascent batch of volcanic red jazz, dub and hip-hop fusions effuse. Produced by Garcia in collaboration with London legend Kwes, Garcia returns with Joe Armon-Jones (keys), Daniel Casimir (bass) and Sam Jones (drums), also enlisting the aid of such featured guests as Esperanza Spalding and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Leading with the felsic dance that is 'The Seer', across which what sound to be microtonal saxophone improvisations move across dark interregnums and moodily rapacious razzes, the ensuing album is equally as explosive and never settles or sets, despite its molten presentation.

Review: For every artist who reaches immense heights early into their career, a second album brings much anticipation, and the exceptional tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia's Odyssey, is no exception. Musicians of the calibre of Garcia and her band have been honing their craft forever, and like this double album's name, all musically travel long and hard paths... Those that arrive at Garcia's deliciously distinct compositions on the legendary Concord Jazz record label, home of that other pioneer Esperanza Spalding, who guests on 'Dawn'. Garcia's luscious orchestrations fuse jazz with d&b, Latin, r&b, dub and beyond, in thoughtful syncopations and intriguing harmonics that speak of journeying. So, relish the funky intro of 'Set it Free' and Garcia's sultry tones with Richie's sweet and endearing siren-like vocals... On 'Seer' enjoy Garcia's precision, locked in heavenly reverbs and echoes playing off Jones' junglism and Armon-Jones' keys in a free jazz blast, and on 'Clarity' let Garcia, with her sisters-in-brass Maurice-Grey and Turton interweave Casimir's Bass in a luxurious cinematic embrace. Garcia with Kwes produce this adventure, one that undoubtedly will receive even more accolades. Odyssey, an album for lovers of all manifestations of jazz excellence to collect and treasure.

Review: Tenor saxophonist, bandleader and composer Nubya Garcia returns with her sophomore album, Odyssey, her second release on the Concord Jazz imprint, out in September 2024. Backlit by a decidedly crimson red, Garcia comes back by the likes of Kwes. and Joe-Armon Jones for a full dozen tracks of epical spiritual jazz travails. Laconic yet ipso facto expressive, Garcia remarks of the record that she felt that it ended up 'transversing so many things'; rather than settling on just one universe as a homeward base, Garcia finds freedom in the continual movement between universes. Led by the tense but no less joy-inflective 'The Seer', on which moods of broken jazz, and that of a treacherous but sagacious journeys, is evinced, Odyssey kicks things off on a larger-than-life note.