Review: Phil Dawson ٤-tet - Don’t Waste Your Ancestors’ Time (Funkiwala)

 

The latest in the must have albums of 2024 is 'Don't Waste Your Ancestor's Time' as Phil Dawson ٤-tet take on the past is now!

We've been introduced to Phil Dawson ٤-tet with the single 'Shifting Sands' (Mainline) featuring Khadijatou Doyneh (see review HERE) and we know the guitarist/producer learnt at the feet of legends like Hugh Masekela (as influential on the new compilation, 'Chakalaka Jazz - A Selection Of South African Gems  see review HERE), Afrobeat co-creator Tony Allen (as featured HERE), Ethio-jazz 'founder' Mulatu Astatke (who's new album was released last week - see review HERE), Osibisa and many more on the UK jazz/fusion scene.

And why is all this important?  Well it clearly is at the root of this album - as in the title - and all the lesson's he's had from the musical ancestors are have produced a deep fusion post Miles and denched in flute gang (again, last weeks' Flute Gang 'Album of the Week', Ludivine Issambourg's 'Above The Laws' - see review HERE that embraces more jazz-funk musical legends, the Laws family - happy 85th Birthday Hubert 10.11.24)

This is also 'out there' boarding on the free jazz space age on 'Now Rise Up' and on 'Pralaya' (which fade out far too early on the guitar solo for me) but evey track is a blend of Afro-futuristism fusion that's as cool on the jazzdance floor (especially, the spiritual space jazz of the ten minute monster opening track, 'Ghanaba')  as the headphones.

This is no suprise really as, in additon to Khadijatou,, the ٤-tet include saxophonist Tony Kofi (he's been brilliant for decades and also check out the duet album 'Alrera Vita' with Alina Bzhezhinska, see review HERE), Sam Leak (piano), Dele Sosimi, John Martin (tenor), Nick Walters (Trumpet), Biola Dosunmu (vocals), Justin Thurgur (Trombone - last seen on YATM on Wah Wah 45s Eparapo, 'Take To The Streeets' - see review HERE'') pluas a guest appearance from Tamar Collocutor!

Such a shame we missed the launch party at the Pizza Express last month but at least the album is a latest testament to how good these guys are and how well our ancestors spent their time (well, some of them)

Artist: Phil Dawson ٤-tet
Title: Don't Waste Your Ancestors' Time
Release date: 29th November, 2024
Label : Funkiwala
Catalog Number : -
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Phil Dawson ٤-tet - Shifting Sands (Mainline) ft. Khadijatou Doyneh (Funkiwala)

The second single from the forthcoming album is just as impressive as the first, Phil Dawson ٤-tet is on solid ground with  Shifting Sands (Mainline) featuring Khadijatou Doyneh.

It's fairly amazing how we get links from Phil Dawson to Medlar, in this case via the previous single, 'Ilé (Iyesa)' that featured Rowland Sutherland plus Dele Sosimi and Biola Dosunmu (Dele having worked with Medlar on Wah Wah 45s - see review HERE) and, unsurprisingly, what a great combiation of vocal and Afro-jazz for flute gang fans.

The second single to be taken from Phil Dawson's forthcoming new album ‘Don’t Waste Your Ancestors’ Time’, 'Shifting Sands (Mainline)' centres itself around a poem by spoken word artist Khadijatou, philosophising from her immediate surroundings (kinda reminds me of Kameelah Waheed - see reviews HERE & HERE) with a warped Ghanaian-style highlife guitar, 70s jazz-funk-inspired Fender Rhodes, with more flute futurism from Sutherland sounding more Jimi Tenor than Jimi himself (see review HERE).

Like Mr. Tenor (in his Philophon role), UK guitarist, composer and bandleader Phil is embeded in Hi-Life, Afrobeat, South African music having worked with a who's who including Hugh Masekela, Tony Allen, Mulatu Astatke, Osibisa (don't forget Sol Power All-Stars' 'tribute' that's just come out - see review HERE) as well as London based Lokkhi Terra and Soothsayers.

The band will be performing at Pizza Express Dean Street in London on October 22nd https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/phil-dawson-quintet-feat-khadijatou-doyneh
to promote the album, 'Don’t Waste Your Ancestors’ Time' will be released on November 29th

Artist: Phil Dawson ٤-tet
Title:  Shifting Sands (Mainline) ft. Khadijatou Doyneh
Release date: 25th October, 2024
Label : Funkiwala
Catalog Number : -
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp