brian jackson: this is brian jackson
Francisco Espregueira
The magnificent BBE Music label just released a special record from a very special artist. Presenting his first solo album in over 20 years, legendary American musician Brian Jackson joins forces with producer Daniel Collás (Phenomenal Handclap Band founder) and delivers a sublime 8-track project entitled This Is Brian Jackson. Earning a mythic status among music fans thanks to his pioneering work with Gil Scott-Heron in the 70’s, where his flute and electric piano performances helped defining the sound of an era, Jackson went on to record with Kool & The Gang, Will Downing, Roy Ayers and Gwen Guthrie among many others during the 80’s. This Is Brian Jackson shows a rare thing within veteran musicians, with the music sounding adventurous, vital and broad-minded.
This Is Brian Jackson contains vintage, soul-stirring warm vocals, with distinctive flute and lyrical keys taking centre stage. The songwriting feels timeless, the arrangement effortless, the production human and analogue. From the golden-era soul-funk opener “All Talk”, through soaring Afrobeat-inspired dreamscape “Mami Wata” to compact groover “Little Orphan Boy” which closes the album. Created and conceptualized from Collás’ question “what would a Brian Jackson album sound like if the 21st century Brian were to complete that 1976 album today?”, This Is Brian Jackson is one of his best albums. Available on vinyl, courtesy of BBE.
“We sketched out musical ideas, drank way too much coffee, consumed way too many tacos and sampled perhaps a few too many exotic whiskeys while talking about things that were important to both of us personally. The lyrics for the songs are a result of those conversations”