British-Bahraini trumpeter and composer Yazz Ahmed has come through with a brand new album titled Polyhymnia. This has been an album I have been anticipating for a while now, being a fan of the Middle Eastern influences she shows throughout her music. This album is absolutely terrific!
From the colourful and textured opening “Lahan al-Mansour to the rhythmic guitar and bass-driven vibe of the closer “Barbara,” this project is cohesive and layered. With gorgeous trumpet compositions throughout, especially on tracks like “One Girl Among Many,” with stellar keys and vocal contributions that shine through. The quirky keys on “2857” are wonderful in their energy, and the cacophony of the track as a whole makes it a wild listen. The smooth and lush composition on “Ruby Bridges” is soulful, another highlight on the album, while the slight aggression and unnerving energy on “Deeds Not Words” is mystical, bringing percussion, trumpet leads and frantic drumming at times. It’s a stellar track that also features subtle but poignant guitar leads. The rhythms throughout this track in particular makes it one of my favourite tracks on the album. Overall, this is a fantastic, rhythmic and textured release highlighting her talents as a producer and arranger.
Listen to Yazz Ahmed’s brand new album Polyhymnia below via Bandcamp and don’t forget to support! Released via Ropeadope Records.
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