17.10.2018
Text: Cem Kayıran
Translation: Yetkin Nural
Shabaka Hutchings is definitely one of pioneers from Britain’s new jazz scene that has emerged in 2000’s and showcasing its top quality examples today. Known for his masterful fusions and spiritual music that follows the footsteps of legends like Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders, Hutchings is going to performing at 28th Akbank Jazz Festival with his exciting project Comet Is Coming.
The multiple genres and approaches you will come across as you listen to Hutchings’ various projects are all the proof you need for not only the depth of British artist’s musical knowledge but also his unique bravery in his song writing, producing and performing. With his vast musical reception, Hutchings is also selected as one of the curators of Le Guess Who? festival which will take place in Utrecht this November.
Hucthings started his career in bands like Sun Ra Arkestra and The Heliocentrics and made collaborations with countless names from Mulatu Astatke to Floating Points. Here are three unusual projects from Hutching, starting with The Comet Is Coming, which will be on Babylon stage at the night of 17th October.
The Comet Is Coming
Shabaka Hutchings has become a household name with the legendary orchestras he joined as well as his remarkable productions. When he joined forces with the Maxwell Hallett and Dan Leavers duo, who are still producing music together under their Soccer96 project, The Comet Is Coming was born. The trio was formed in 2013 and quickly found their place on the radar of jazz fans with their sonic experiments and high-octane live shows that bring together different musical dynamics such as free jazz, funk, trip hop and noise. Their debut album Channel the Spirits, which was nominated Mercury Prize, is definitely the best cosmic jazz experiment of the recent years.
“Space Carnival”
Sons of Kemet
Sons of Kemet, which was formed in 2011, is another globally rising band that Shabaka Hutchings lead. Even though it was formed in Britain, the band has truly a multi-national formation with musicians from all around the world. While the band makes their music built upon wind instruments and helical rhythmic structures, they also don’t shy away from giving political messages. Son of Kemet masterfully brings together Afrobeat, Carrabean and Middle Eastern sounds - all of which inspired much of the popular dance music today - and their latest album, Your Queen is Reptile, looks like it is going to have long lasting effect. Save the date for Sons of Kemet’s performance at Salon İKSV on 21st November!
“My Queen Is Angela Davis”
A.R.E. Project
A.R.E. Project is a delicious trio which was brought together by techno, noise and avant-garde jazz master producer Hieroglyphic Being. Indian percussionist and composer Sarathy Korwar joined Hutchings and Being to form A.R.E Project, a trio that blends electronic layers with acoustic sounds so organically that they sound like they are coming from a single source. The four-track EP that the trio released from Ninja Tune’s sub-label Technicolour is all the more reason to get excited about A.R.E. Project’s future.
“The Doctrines of Swedenborg”