malik alston presents painted pictures: air
Francisco Espregueira
The lifelong Detroiter Malik Alston is on a hot streak. Having released the brilliant In A Better Way EP last week, via Mother Tongue Records, he now presents Painted Pictures and delivers Air - a spirited celebration of jazz virtuosity and Motor City house music, showcasing Alston’s roots in jazz, gospel, soul and dance music. Coming out tomorrow through The Jazz Diaries, Air might be the best and more intentional record in Malik Alston’s essential discography (mostly released via his own Truth Manifest Records).
Alston is a man of many talents, ranging from singing and producing to djing and performing poetry, carrying a long list of classic releases under his belt. Air is a collection of long lost tracks created by Malik and his band Painted Pictures. In it, he expresses strong emotions, with the immaculate and vivacious qualities of the LP conveying a message steeped into the soul of its performers. The production elements perfectly marry the instruments, vocals and scatting to offer a cheerful, soulful and expressive work of music and emotion. Available on vinyl, this is one of our favorite releases of 2021.
“When I think of ‘Air’... for me, it exists to express a combination of freedom, self awareness, and doing something different and new. In ‘Air’ you get to really hear the band as a whole, no one stands out individually. It was all a matter of showing that we brought the music to life together as a unit. ‘Air’ is definitely a true reflection of what Painted Pictures was: free musicians who play good music.”