Jazzman’s 7th installment in their Spiritual Jazz series is a deep trip into Islam-influenced esoteric jazz for your mind and body; ranging from fairly straightforward jazz-funk (The Lightmen’s “All Praises To Allah”, Abd el Rahman el Khatib’s “Ah Ya Zen”) to more overtly Middle Eastern-influenced progressive jazz (Ahmed Abdul-Malik’s “Nadusilma”). The selections draw influence from invocations of the African Muslim landscape, dreams of a spiritual Afro-East and from actual Middle Eastern music. Highlights include Emmanuel Ajdul-Rahim’s seriously deep “Kalahari Suite”, Yusuf Lateef’s laid back “Morning” (from the Morning LP), “Africanos/Latinos” by Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio (featuring Pharaoh Sanders!) and Sabu Martinez & Sahib Shihab’s meditative and stripped-down “Nus”. SJ7 makes for a perfect addendum to two recently reissued classics: Shamek Farrah’s First Impressions and Ahmad Jamal’s The Awakening. On double vinyl housed in gatefold sleeve with extensive liner notes and photos. Recommended.

• black double vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Jazzman 2017

reviewed by nick nightingale 04/2017