Jazz Is Dead teams up with Los Angeles collective Katalyst on brilliant new album

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Jazz Is Dead teams up with Los Angeles collective Katalyst on brilliant new album

Jazz Is Dead’s brilliant series continues with multi-instrumentalists, composers, producers, and JID masterminds Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad teaming up with one of Los Angeles’s most innovative collectives in Katalyst. Based specifically out of the Inglewood area, Katalyst is a 9-piece band that was established back in September 2014, and includes a collaborative group of producers, composers, session musicians, and writers, who continue to be at the forefront of creative music and art currently coming out Southern California.

On this incredible recording, which is the thirteenth release in the JID series, Younge, Muhammad, and Katalyst seem to be fully locked in seamlessly, bringing together a nice mix of sun-drenched laid-back grooves to more upbeat jazz-funk numbers with a nod towards the dancefloor. There is plenty to love about this record, from analog-based cosmic keys and Fender Rhodes lines, to soulful horns, and funky head-nodding drum rhythms.

On this session, Younge plays numerous instruments (keys, guitar, sitar, percussion, etc), while Muhammad plays percussion on “Dogon Cypher” and more on the production side of things. Holding it down for Katayst on the recording is David Otis on alto saxophone, Corbin Jones on tuba and baritone saxophone, Jonah Levine on trombone, Emile Martinez on trumpet, Brandon Cordoba and Brian Hargrove both on acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, Marlon Spears on electric bass, Ahmad DuBose-Dawson on percussion, and Greg Paul on drums.

Not stated lightly, however JID 013 is arguably the best Jazz Is Dead release to date with Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the Katalyst collective’s sounds meshing together in what now feels like perfect pairing of musical minds. This album is definitely up there with the top releases of 2022.

Bay Area Residents: Don’t miss the ‘Jazz Is Dead Tour’ with Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Katalyst, Brian Jackson, Henry Franklin, and Doug Carn at August Hall in San Francisco on Thu, Aug 25. Visit the Jazz Is Dead website to view all dates.

‘JID 013’ is out now digitally, and will be officially released on vinyl, November 1, 2022.