Graham Reid | | 1 min read
When the rock band Cream emerged in the mid-Sixties they were immediately hailed as a supergroup, although outside of Britain few were especially familiar with the credentials of Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker other than by repute. Clapton everyone knew.
Because jazz musicians move between bands and leaders so frequently many of the line-ups are supergroups by definition: Miles Davis' quartets and quintets would certainly qualify and you could argue half the albums in the classic Blue Note period of the Fifties and Sixties were made by supergroups.
Heads will go up when the line-up of Dinner Party is revealed: saxophonist Kamasi Washington, pianist Robert Glasper and saxophonist Terrance Martin (known for work on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly and with Travis Scott and many others).
That's about 20+ Grammy nominations (and more than a few wins) right there.
So here are artists at the crossroads of jazz, R'n'B, hip-hop and soul getting together, who have played at the recent Coachella and on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and here invite in neo-soul singer Arin Ray for this subtle, low-riding journey through those black American idioms.
This is cultured, sophisticated and coolly delivered, but – perhaps as befits the name they've chosen – sometimes offers a few mundane low-light soul moments (notably Arin Ray's Love Love which is no stretch for anyone, least of all the lyricist who probably works for Hallmark Cards).
Much better is elsewhere on the slick Answered Prayers with singer Phoelix, the laidback slightly spacey For Granted (Ray and beatmaker 9th Wonder) and the moody dub-kissed instrumental Lower East Side.
The throbbing pulse of Watts Renaissance (like a subdued spin-off from Ornette Coleman's Prime Time) is disappointingly short and like a soundtrack snippet from something like Ghost Dog.
Despite the presence of the jazz super stars here, this is very much a contemporary R'n'B album -- which is why we have it under Music rather then Jazz -- with subtle beats (from 9th Wonder) and a cool urban mood as on the slinky Breathe (with Ray) and Insane (with singer Ant Clemons).
Beautifully produced too (check Secure).
Needs to be said, Dinner Party make classy music for a dinner party.
But also worth paying close attention to after the guests have gone.
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You can hear this album at Spotify here
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