Shabaka. Afrikan Culture.

Standard issue on black vinyl. Includes a 12"x12" insert a portrait on one side and credits on the other

Guardian News review -

Extraordinarily, this mini-album marks the solo debut of saxophonist and band leader Shabaka Hutchings, lauded for his work with Sons of Kemet, the Comet Is Coming and Shabaka & the Ancestors. Existing only as a download (why?), Afrikan Culture finds the now mononymous Shabaka moving away from the frenetic tempos and boisterousness of his other three collaborations and turning inwards towards a more meditative state.

Titles such as Black Meditation or Ritual Awakening hint at a work of open-ended shimmer, one perhaps aimed at rooting meditative practice in sounds more germane to the jazz sound palette – a work allied to recent ambient jazz treasures such as Nala Sinephro’s Space 1.8 and Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the LSO’s Promises. Call It a European Paradox features the bejewelled, open-ended interplay of the kora (the west African lute), the shakuhachi (a Japanese flute) and bell-like percussion.

But the reality is that Shabaka in chill mode still remains instantly recognisable. On tracks such as Ital is Vital, whose title nods to the life force-affirming vegetarian diet of Rastafarianism, the transcendental yin haziness makes way for Shabaka’s signature tongue work and yang directness. He seems unable to resist playing the flute like his saxophone – with vigour.

- Kitty Empire

A1 Black Meditation

Shakuhachi, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Shabaka Hutchings

4:01

A2 Call It A European Paradox

Harp – Alina Bzhezhinska

Shakuhachi, Flute, Clarinet – Shabaka Hutchings

3:37

A3 Ital Is Vital

Kora – Kadialy Kouyate

Shakuhachi – Shabaka Hutchings

4:50

A4 Memories Don't Live Like People Do

Shakuhachi, Flute – Shabaka Hutchings

1:41

B1 Ritual Awakening

Flute – Shabaka Hutchings

Musical Box – Kwake Bass

1:34

B2 Explore Inner Space

Guitar – Dave Okumu

Shakuhachi, Flute – Shabaka Hutchings

6:26

B3 The Dimension Of Subtle Awareness

Shakuhachi, Flute, Clarinet, Mbira, Voice – Shabaka Hutchings

4:33

B4 Rebirth

Kora – Kadialy Kouyate

Shakuhachi, Flute, Voice – Shabaka Hutchings

1:54

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Verve Label Group

Copyright © – Verve Label Group

Record Company – UMG Recordings, Inc.

Recorded At – Snap Studios

Recorded At – The Neve Church Studios

Mixed At – The Crush, London

Mastered At – Electric Mastering

Lacquer Cut At – Sterling Sound

Distributed By – UMG Commercial Services

Published By – BMG

A&R – Dahlia Ambach-Caplin*

Administrator [A&R] – Femi Onafowokan

Arranged By – Shabaka Hutchings

Coordinator [Production / Release] – Tom Arndt

Creative Director, Design – Ana Pryor

Lacquer Cut By – JN-H*

Management – Rachel Millar

Management [A&R] – Emerson Sudbury

Mastered By – Guy Davie

Mixed By – Dilip Harris

Photography By [Cover Photo] – Gareth Jarvis

Producer – Dilip Harris, Shabaka Hutchings

Promotion [Marketing] – Oliver Schrage

Recorded By – Dilip Harris (tracks: A1), Giles Ashong* (tracks: B1), Riley MacIntyre (tracks: A2 to A4, B2 to B4)

Written-By – Shabaka Hutchings