released: september 20, 2024

genre: jazz

from: london, uk

label: concord jazz

a few thoughts: nubya garcia has been one of london’s finest jazz artists of the last decade. the saxophonist has released some stellar albums in the past, with projects such as nubya’s 5ive and the source and is an electrifying live performer. odyssey is her new album, a sprawling 12-track album that showcases her incredible talents as a composer and instrumentalist. it’s co-produced by kwes and with contributions from joe armon-jones on keys, daniel casimir on bass and sam jones on drums. the emotive and light opener “dawn” featuring esperanza spalding is a playful, meandering and stunning track with incredible vocals from esperanza as well. the grandiosity of “odyssey” is incredible too, while the groovy and more subdued energy of “solstice” is a welcome change of pace. “set it free” featuring ritchie has some incredible drumming, while “the seer” is an explosive moment, with incredible keys and saxophone leads that complement the intense drumming as well. “we walk in gold” featuring georgia anne muldrow is a beautifully melodic track brought by georgia’s stunning voice and string and brass sections that are just incredible throughout. the string-led “water’s path” is a stunning track with such incredible strings and emotive moments that perfectly capture the beauty of nubya’s sound. the delicate “clarity” is another stunning moment, with swelling strings and gentle yet playful saxophone melodies that are just so immersive and beautiful from start to finish. “in other words, living” is an emotive and expressive track with more grandiose strings and an incredible composition that is so striking as well. “clarity (outerlude)” is an stunning string-led composition that makes way for the closer “triumphance”, an upbeat and dun-inspired cut, with its heavy drumming and basslines that contribute to nubya’s incredible saxophone leads throughout. it’s quite an emphatic way to close a stunning album. nubya garcia shines from start to finish, further cementing her legacy as one of the most influential and important artists in jazz today.

the album: