Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace

Shabaka says he's done playing saxophone--including in his beloved groups Sons of Kemet, the Comet is Coming and Shabaka and the Ancestors--and his new solo album bears that out: it's filled with spiritual ruminations delivered on clarinet and flutes, a deeply felt work that is much different in tone than his firebrand sax work. I saw him play Pharoah Sanders' parts of Promises at the Hollywood Bowl in September, and wept for most of the performance; this album feels like a spiritual successor to Shabaka inhabiting the role of spiritual jazz's most revered monk. Featuring contributions from Moses Sumney--who sings his ass off--Brandee Younger, Carlos Nino, Ndudzo Makathini and a show-stopping flute performance by Andre 3000, this is my favorite album of the year so far in a walk. Can't wait for everyone to hear it.