London keyboardist and pianist Charlie Stacey has been making waves over the past few years, performing with Yussef Dayes and fellow Tomorrow Warriors alumni such as Moses Boyd and The Ezra Collective. He sets out on his own, releasing his highly-anticipated debut as a leader, titled The Light Beyond Time on UK’s Night Dreamer label.

This superb 5-track record fuses together soulful jazz-funk with cosmic synth textures, a touch of Latin-rooted percussion, scat vocals by Vula Malinga (who has notably performed with Basement Jaxx & Incognito), and driving drum rhythms. Similar to all Night Dreamer sessions, the music was impressively captured in one direct-to-disc take, providing spontaneity and raw live concert-like energy and emotion to the recording.

Stacey holds it down on piano, Rhodes, and a number of synths, and is joined by Jay Phelps (trumpet), Tom Driessler (bass), Mamour Seck (percussion), Oscar Ogden (drums) and Malinga on vocals.

Incredible from start to finish, Charlie Stacey has released a fantastic debut and easily one of the top standout jazz recordings of 2023. Highly recommended!

Charlie Stacey — ‘The Light Beyond Time’
(Night Dreamer Records)

1. Dawn Chorus
2. Music Is Healing
3. Charlie’s Tune
4. Rivers Of Gondor
5. Mamour’s Tune

BUY RECORD

• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Jazz Funk
• Spiritual Jazz