Saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings is forever facing forward even when dealing with the past.
While 2020 brought with it a global pandemic, it also shone a spotlight right into the reddened face of a global rise in racism. Except it didn’t, not really, it was simply more readily accessed in a time where social media means there are increasing places to pass out bile and also far fewer places to hide.
Unsurprisingly, given the title, Black To The Future is an explosive commentary on those experiences, capturing the raw emotion that accompanies history and identity.
The exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist is joined here by legendary British grime MC D Double E, British agit-rapper Kojey Radical, and the criminally underrated Lianne La Havas, among others, on an 11-track collection which veers through styles, tones and gears.
Hutchings again uses the expression of jazz to air his views on colonialism and a disdain for the British establishment, Field Negus begins this record (one of two tracks performed by the poet Joshua Idehen) with a real statement of intent.
“I am Field Negro now / I do not want your equality, it was never yours to give me, and even then it was too minor” Idehen passionately reads.
Drawing from a wide variety of historically Black genres, namely Afrobeat, dub and grime Black To The Future is at once urgent and agitated. Strident percussion and subtle woodwind often clash as tracks merge and morph, carrying the listener away on a cosmic journey, yet never staying from the central theme.
https://www.nme.com/artists/lianne-la-havasWhen Radical circles through his repeated chant: “I was born from the mud with the hustle inside me” each hits harder.
Black To The Future is not an easy listen, and nor is it meant to be. Sticking on a ‘I heart political jazz’ sticker and feeling your job is done, is not enough, there is work still be done.
While 2018’s barnstorming Your Queen Is A Reptile announced a stark new talent, BTTF cements Sons Of Kemet as masters in their realm.
The message here is clear: there is no way forward without learning from the past.
Despite it being only mid-May expect this astounding record to feature one many end of year Best Of lists.
Black To The Future is out now on Impulse! Records.
