LA-based percussionist & producer Carlos Niño with a superb cast of musicians release cosmic ambient jazz masterpiece
You know that moment, often in a time of frustration or in a stressful state, when you are seeking for something to help transport you to another peaceful and meditative dimension? The prolific Los Angeles-based producer, percussionist, and DJ Carlos Niño and superb cast of musicians, many at the center of the creative music scene in Southern California, have provided that spiritual transportation through an absolute cosmic ambient jazz masterpiece recording, titled More Energy Fields, Current on Chicago’s International Anthem label.
This brilliant 10-track recording finds itself fully in touch with Earth’s natural energy, often including sounds of the ocean, water, chimes (from what feels like the wind), and other organic elements. The music is a beautiful combination of ambient and atmospheric tones, cosmic melodies with layered and spacial percussion textures. It’s a spiritual sonic journey that you quickly find yourself at the center of, not just absorbing through listening however one that feels more like an overwhelming enlightening experience that has the ability to take you to a higher plane. Even when the drums are not present, there is a pulsating groove present that suggests you’re going somewhere welcoming.
There are many amazing musicians on this recording, including Jamael Dean on organ and piano (electric and acoustic), Sam Gendel on alto saxophone and vibraphones, Nate Mercereau on guitar and effects, Aaron Shaw on flute and tenor saxophone, Dntel on synths, London’s Shabaka Hutchings on tenor of saxophone, Laraaji, whom plays zither and provides vocals, along with many others.
Overall, this is arguably Carlos Niño’s greatest work, and definitely up there with any other album that has been released this year and beyond. The recording is more than just sound and music, but an energy that as a listener you just want to lean into and be fully immersed in. Once you experience it as a whole, it’s spiritually nourishing and transformative.
Carlos Niño & Friends — ‘More Energy Fields, Current’
(International Anthem)
- Pleasewakeupalittlefaster, please… (w/ Jamael Dean)
- The World Stage, 4321 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90008 (w/ Sam Gendel, Jamael Dean and Randy Gloss)
- Nightswimming (w/ Dntel, Jamael Dean and Jira ><)
- Now the background is the foreground. (w/ Adam Rudolph, Aaron Shaw and Jamael Dean)
- Thanking The Earth (w/ Sam Gendel and Nate Mercereau)
- Salon Winds (w/ Jamire Williams, Nate Mercereau, Jamael Dean and Aaron Shaw)
- Ripples, Reflection, Loop (w/ Laraaji, Jamael Dean and Sharada)
- Togetherness (w/ Devin Daniels and Jamael Dean)
- Iasos 79 ’til Infinity
- Please, wake up.
