A project from the collective minds of Kamasi Washington, 9th, Wonder, Terrace Martin, and Robert Glassper presents us with a jazz hip-hop collective looking to space out their own sound in the industry. Each are highly creative, successful, and well known in their own respective projects, so we were interested in what the result would be when these creatives worked together.

We aren’t given a lot of time together. The 7 track album clocks in at just under 27 minutes and the songs are presented as such. Short, succinct loops created by the artists. The 9th Wonder produced beats set the stage for others to shine. The opening track, “Sleepless Night” sounds like a classic 90’s RnB vibe. (For me the beginning reminds me of Ushers’ - U Don’t Have to Call). Kamasi has a smooth sound on this track too. But giving more listens, the album seems to serve as a proof source of sorts for the industry. A production group consisting of Washington, 9th Wonder, Terrace Martin, and Glassper could potentially produce records for up and coming artists, and “Dinner Party” offers up a sampling of the sounds and vibes they can create.

My personal favorite track is “The Mighty Tree”. A beat driven by a loop gets a spray of Washington’s free feeling saxophone. But the beat doesn’t try to do too much. It has it’s points but sounds like an MC is needed to bring the sound together. “Freeze Tag” brings to mind so many classic beats and songs, and not in a bad way. It’s almost a refreshing sound given the subject matter.

Overall the album is a pleasant, quick listen. A lot of call backs to past influences can be found, giving the album a level of familiarity while still leaving the listener with something fresh. If you’re a fan of this sound I highly recommend Terrace Martin’s band “Gray Area” a listen. Their live set from Sounds of Crenshaw and Jammcard blends familiar sounds with unfamiliar and gives good insight in to the band’s sound.