Today’s artists, growing up in a different of computers, COVID and social unrest, are more socially conscious in their music. Here are a couple releases by artists that use music for externalizing a thought process.
Drummer Jonathan Barber brings his church roots together in an album with Taber Gable/key, Andrew Renfroe/g, Matt Dwonszyk/b and Dodwin Louis/as. There’s a feel of Joe Sample soulfulness on pieces like the mellow “Now And Forever” and Lewis gently preaching on “Give Us This Day”, with Gable’s keys viscerally attractive on “Gathering”. Barber mixes up pulses, boing from hip hop to relaxed on ”Poetic” and giving a nice aria on “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”. The drum as a testimony.
Anthony Fung drums up with his post bop team of David Binney/as, Luca Mendoza/p and Luca Alemanno, with a number of guests mixing and matching throughout. Guitarist Andrew Renfroe and keyboardist Paul Cornish add to the texture on the assertive title tune, with harmonica man Roni Eytan blowing softly on “Let Us Not Forget To Be Kind”. Mendoza leads the gallop on “Roots” and Binney is thoughtful on ‘El Paso” and teams up with fellow alto man Braxton Cook for some subtones and solos on “Defiance”. Drumming up harmonies.