Opening with the exuberant ‘Let The Light In’, this is sizzling hi-jazz and sunny soul, shot through with a dose of funky Afro-Latin rhythms for good measure. Josh Hoyer leads the charge, delivering a powerhouse vocal performance, while Nia Martin and Deborah Ayo bring that gospel glow. As, indeed, they continue to do so throughout, especially on the deep, soulful standout ‘When Love Left’ or the shimmering, street soul meets Brit-funk feel of ‘Change!’ Experience the spontaneity and playful nature of tracks like ‘Si no me quieres esperar’ (with Cuban maestro Ale Gutiérrez on vocals) infused with funky Latin and Brazilian rhythms, as well as sparkling, alien disco dub in the form of ‘Space Lines’. There’s no-holds, hands-in-the-air, fluid disco club grooves on ‘What It Takes’ and driving, riotous, soul-jazz grooves on ‘Being Seen’. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the band change it up and stretch out with beautiful jazz-funk instrumentals like ‘At The Queensboro’ or lush sonic gem ‘On That Strange’, a track that feels like a long, blissful afternoon fading into evening, with things left unspoken in the air and mystery in its kinky grooves.
The Jade’s sound is post-pout, studs up, raw soul, free from modern dancefloor tyranny. It’s intimate disco, dead-selfie freedom, Afro-Latin jazz-dance and Iberian funk all rolled into one, rooted in emotion and shot through with a healthy dose of funky bad ass groovism. Genres that blend and bleed into each other following one simple idea: songs and the expressive power of live instrumentation.
Comin’ atcha from behind the Iberian Curtain (Madrid!) and spearheading the resistance, you’ll find Chavi Ontoria on keys and David Salvador on bass, forming the rhythmic foundation. They’re joined by the rousing horns of Josué García and Dani Herrera, and the vibrant voices of Deborah Ayo and Nia Martin. All the way from Montevideo, guitarist Nico Ibarburu weaves his spell-binding grooves, while top-notch artists such as Josh Hoyer, Angela Gooding, Ale Gutiérrez, jazz trumpet player Malcolm Strachan and others broaden and enrich the project’s emotional and musical range.
Tracklist:
1. Let the Light In
2. Change!
3. On That Strange
4. Space Lines
5. Promises of Tomorrow (Reprise)
6. At the Queensboro
7. Nos Vamos a Encontrar (Interlude)
8. When Love Left
9. Being Seen
10. Si No Me Quieres Esperar
11. What It Takes
12. Need to Get Back
