The New Emancipation [CD]

'The New Emancipation' draws its inspiration from 19th century work songs and early blues, exploring the modern resonances of the emancipation story. From debt/wage slavery, to creative oppression in the music industry and ideas of race in a post-Obama age, it combines this rich musical inheritance and revisits it with a stellar jazz ensemble and modern electronic production.

Citing influences as divergent as Duke Ellington, Madlib and Frederick Delius, Kinch plants the power and significance of the blues firmly with modern realities. The piece is both an ode and polemic, setting out to "challenge the comfort and complacency of our modern world."

Personnel: Soweto Kinch (alto & tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, rap vocals, programming), Byron Wallen (trumpet), Shabaka Hutchings (clarinets, tenor saxophone), Harry Brown (trombone), Femi Temowo (guitar), Karl Rasheed-Abel (double bass), Justin Brown (drums), Eska Mtungwazi, Francis Mott, Jason MacDougall (vocals)

An Ancient Worksong opens proceedings like a mixture of Oliver Nelson and Sun Ra, Kinch's warm alto playing set against a chorus of reeds played by Byron Wallen, Shabaka Hutchings and Harry Brown. Its brief duration climaxes with the leader's theatrical declaration seeming more like a prologue to Trying to Be a Star, which follows close on its heels. Kinch transforms into soulful broken-beat mode, with the vocal production here suggesting 4hero circa their classic Two Pages period.

A People With No Past is a breathless race of a song. During its seven-minute length Kinch delivers a fast-paced, post-bop series of solos against Justin Brown's engaging flurry of drums and fine solos from guitarist Femi Temowo. The song's an exhilarating ride, full of melody and movement, energy and texture. Importantly it makes for a welcome contrast to the varied styles that surround it.

Paris Heights is a sketch satirising exploitative debt collectors, unscrupulous employers and their victims; but it seems overextended at nearly eight minutes. Suspended Adolescence comes as a relief with engaging melodies and imaginative solos. Wallen's spacious, beautifully-paced trumpet and characteristically creative technique is a particular delight.

The New Emancipation is a tremendously energetic set that once again sees this celebrated British artist ambitiously exploring a variety of contemporary and classic styles. It's difficult to think of anyone currently able to produce a more convincing and engaging mix than Soweto Kinch.