London saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings is without a doubt a key figure in the extremely exciting and captivating contemporary jazz scene. His satellites - Sons of Kemet, The Comet is Coming and Shabaka and the Ancestors – have all previously landed in AB and actually form a Holy Trinity. It’s no coincidence that legendary jazz label Impulse! Records – that, in 2021, will have been around for 60 years – houses Hutchings’ projects. Just like the label set new standards with John Coltrane and Charles Mingus in the ‘60s.

Their latest album ‘Black To The Future’ welcomes beautiful people like Moor Mother, Angel Bat Dawid and Kojey Radical. The album totally exudes the spirit of Black Lives Matter but is, at the same time, a party on the dance floor. Humo summed it up best: “Dit is jazz met de vuist in de lucht à la ‘Attica Blues’ van Archie Shepp, ‘The Freedom Rider’ van Art Blakey, ‘Freedom Suite’ van Sonny Rollins en ‘We Insist!’ van Max Roach. Fraai rijtje, subliem aangevuld.“ It has been noted.

We’ll see each other on the dance floor!

Picture: Udoma Janssen

Concert pictures © Daria Miasoedova