Photo courtesy of Jimel Primm
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chris daly I spent the morning trying to convince my AI Drunk Friend that I had a drinking problem and needed to get help. This bot needs to look at the AI in the mirror for a long time.
It’s no surprise that Jahari Massaba Unit deftly erases the lines between jazz, hip-hop, rock and soul. After all, Madlib and Kareem Riggins have been doing it for decades. And once again, with their latest album, YHWH is lovethe duo provided one of this year’s early contenders for funkiest jazz album of 2024.
JMU’s process is relatively simple. Riggins sends the drumbeats to Madlib to create a more fully realized track. However, the results are very mixed. In their debut album, pardon my french, the two production legends got their groove on with xylophones and a smoky cafe atmosphere. It had a French feel that defined their sound and vision. Released earlier this month, YHWH is love There are fewer restrictions on themes, allowing for a wider range of exploration and experimentation. The album flows through a myriad of styles, from the funky groove of the Ray Manzelak-esque keys of “Otis Tambourine” to the late-night lull of “All Things,” all backed by Riggins’ lush percussion. Masu. Madlib handles everything else, including the bass, keys, horns, and maybe some kitchen sink strumming. His sensibilities as a box digger extraordinaire serve him and his listeners well.
There are no unexplored sounds. A quiet storm of sparkling keys and crisp percussion? Why not? (“Anointed Soul” and “With the Love of YHWH”)? A bouncy bass line? It’s everywhere (‘Boppin’ is a prime example). His ’70s style steeped in sexy keys? Sure (“Voyage of JMU”). A fusion of African groove and ballroom? That’s true (“Massamba Afandans”). Powerful outro? Yaser (“Seven Miles to Oxnard”). More xylophone? Heck, JMU has that covered too (“Stomping Gamay”). If you have a desire to indulge in jazzy funkification, YHWH is love It should be in your library.
To get a deeper sense of the magic behind the music, I recently sat down with Kareem Riggins to discuss the creative process while being a music fanatic. How did these two meet and create this incredible music together? It’s one thing to jam in person, but the dynamic at JMU is back and forth rather than in person. How is it different? How do duos operate under such circumstances? Is it due to the dynamic bond between the individual players? Real telepathy?what is the meaning behind YHWH is love?
and Seven With an album scheduled for release in 2024, the longtime Dilla collaborator, percussionist, and celebrated producer probably doesn’t get eight full hours of shut-eye every night. That’s reasonable, but Riggins still took time out of his extremely busy schedule — which included attending Joseph “Amp” Fiddler’s funeral. I wanted you to tell me. Because, as he pointed out, “We want to keep celebrating our genius – filling in the details.” Oh, that’s not here, but visit Paisley Park and impress your teacher. He also has great travel suggestions if you want to. Read on to learn more.