Take One
“I don’t know if I should hug or slap the shit out of you.”
My now deceased stepfather once said this to me after he picked me up from the local precinct after being arrested my one and only time. This message rings in my head quite often in my adult life, and I feel like a lot of American listeners might feel that way after listening to the Sons of Kemet masterpiece Your Queen Is a Reptile.
Scratch
Take Two
List of historic musical references that combine Caribbean folk themes and rhythms with Jazz. Drop into the new Sons of Kemet review:
“Fire Down There” by Randy Weston (1955)
“St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins (1956)
Ahmed Abdul Malik’s “The Hustlers” and “Hannibal’s Carnival” (1961)
“Mary Anne” by George Braith (1963)
Naw. Good, too traditional for this release.
Take Three
After hearing Wisdom of the Elders (2016) by Shabaka and the Ancestors I… (make obvious reference to my upcoming trip to Johannesburg since that lp featured several South African musicians and it displays the group’s power, pulling from the diasporic pool).
Getting there
Take Four
“I found it poignant and right in line with what is needed, sonically, to reflect current issues. The tone of it (thematically) reminds me of Keyon Harrold’s latest offering. The song titles are fitting for the homage to the sisters and bring a certain type of energy. I love the tempo … it seems like a mix of everything from grime to carnival (not to mention dub and Afrobeat) to traditional jazz…”
-Bro. Shahkeem Williams (Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York)
(Maybe add that Shahkeem and I saw a stripped down version of Sons of Kemet play at Afropunk’s late night jawn last summer and it was presented by Adam and the fine folks at jazz re:freshed? Also, listen to Keyon Harrold’s The Mugician)
Better
Take Five
Definitely acknowledge that Shabaka Hutchins, Zara Macfarlane, Theon Cross, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Kokoroko, and Camilla George are changing the way we view the location, the gendering, and influential power of Jazz today.
Possibly add a little something about how this record is one in the latest wave of socially conscious Black/ Brown folk creating extra-relevant sounds combating the global ills being felt by everyone (but don’t forget to mention how Black/Brown folk across these lands still got it the hardest).
Mention Impulse! Records and its legacy? Is that important in this moment or just helpful to give wider access to the creative abilities of this Afro-Genius?
Almost
Take Six
Those familiar with the release of this record will most likely be familiar with the theme of compositions named after powerful Black women … but it is important to mention that this record carries the theme of compositions named after powerful Black women.(Yeah, definitely put that in there. That’s pretty significant.)
Aight, let’s do this!
First Draft
Yo, I’m really excited to talk about this new Sons of Kemet album Your Queen Is a Reptile.