kamaal williams: wu hen
Francisco Espregueira
Dropping tomorrow, Kamaal Williams’ sophomore album Wu Hen is a landmark record for 2020, fusing moments of jazz, funk, hip hop and r&b, but also indebted to typical London underground sounds like grime, jungle, house and UKG. This melting pot of ideas and approaches is a clear heritage attained from growing up in London, where the diversity of influences in the heads of virtuosos such as Williams results in an unique output. The established Wu Funk, as Williams trademarks it, derives from his incredible discography since the mid 2010’s, both under the aliases of Kamaal Williams or Henry Wu.
Wu Hen was recorded last August, reverberating from the extreme complicity between Williams and his hugely-gifted touring partners: Quinn Mason on saxophone, Rick James on bass and Greg Paul on drums. The album involves a lot more talent, creating a big-band feel: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Alina Bzhezinska’s performances on the strings and harp respectively are exquisite, Lauren Faith and Mach-Hommy drop by to vocalize special takes, while the people in charge of engineering and production are equally essential. Throughout ten tracks we are taken into an intricate, emotional, energetic and cinematic experience, consistent with Williams’ previous work - one that includes the Yussef Kamaal collaboration, his first solo album The Return, a number of mixtapes and singles and a DJ-Kicks compilation. Available in all formats via Black Focus Records, Wu Hen is a blessing. The Sounds of South London live are here.
“This is a revolution of the mind. A spiritual rebellion. To reach new heights requires separating ourselves from the material world and finding power in what’s intangible. That’s what music and art is for—whether it’s a primitive emotion or something deep, you feel it. And there’s a subliminal element that resonates throughout my work. If you’re painting, it’s what you’re feeling as you’re painting. And the person looking at that artwork or listening to that music, they can feel it too, because it’s sincere.”