Saxophonist and bandleader Nubya Garcia continues to blaze a trail ahead of the London jazz scene with the release of a new single “Set it Free”, the latest in a series of single releases in the run-up to her upcoming sophomore album Odyssey on September 20. The track features Richie Seivwright (commonly known as Richie) of London jazz eight-piece KOKOROKO on vocals.
Richie’s vocals on “Set it Free” demonstrate that the core of the thriving London jazz scene, many of whom met as teenagers through the London jazz education organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, continue to collaborate and share their success. Among the notable musicians featuring on Odyssey are keys player Joe Armon-Jones, known for his work with Ezra Collective as well as solo material, and Sheila Maurice-Grey, also of KOKOROKO.
The laid back neo-soul “Set it Free” features a winding hypnotic melodic motif above a minimal and bare rhythmic backing. The track is a relative rarity among Garcia’s catalogue for incorporating vocals, on which Richie explores registers ranging between soulful breathy delivery and tribal chanting styles, in a rhythmic scheme loosened from the band all throughout.
The first of the album’s singles, “The Seer” was released on June 13 and showcased the array of young UK jazz talent that has coalesced around Garcia and which will ornament the Odyssey album. “The Seer” is an energetic post bap track, setting Garcia’s legato improvisation above quartal harmony reminiscent of McCoy Tyner and frenetic drumming. The Latin big band ballad “Clarity” followed as the album’s third single to be previewed, studded with rich orchestral textures and bossa nova influences.
Odyssey will follow Garcia’s 2020 full-length debut Source, which drew praise for its blending of jazz forms with Latin and dub genres and solidified the composer and saxophonist as a leading light in the London jazz scene, with Pitchfork calling the album “a stunning introduction”. Garcia described Source as ” a story about my heritage, my ancestry, exploring those places and those stories from my parents and my grandparents.”
Garcia is playing an intimate show to launch Odyssey on the eve of the album’s September 20 release date at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), after a series of London homecoming shows kicking off this Saturday. The London run will include performances at All Points East Festival, as well as a precursor to the launch performance, also at ICA. Of the Odyssey launch show, Garcia wrote on Instagram: “Join us on 19th September at the ICA. I’ve been wanting to do an intimate show in London for a while now, and this is the perfect opportunity. Very limited tickets on sale from this Friday.”
Garcia will then head to Australia for two performances in October, before returning to Europe for a short run hitting cities in Italy and Germany.
