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Rating: THE REVIEW
Glendale, Los Angeles, CA.
A hand (with a questionably tasteful ring on the pinky) pulls out three buds from a transparent bag, placing them on the lined paper on which the setlist is written.
The music starts. A smooth groove begins, and the three happily bounce on a rhythm that seems to come from another era.
Lounge music for refined tastes. Nu-jazz with a soul spirit. The vibraphone adds a touch of class.
At the Bomb Shelter Studio, the Yesterday New Quintet is transformed into a quartet for the occasion: there are Ahmad, Joe, Monk, and finally Otis. But it's a fictitious ensemble: behind these alter-egos is a single conductor who plays everything and is Otis Jackson Jr. aka Madlib.
6 tracks x 25 minutes of positive vibes. Chillin' out as they say across the pond.
It opens with "Arroyo" which breaks the canons of classic jazz by replacing brass with a moog; "Little Angel" and "Traffic Zone" are episodes with funk potential deftly contained within the ranks of lounge; "Windy C" approaches the jazz-instrumental rap territories of "Shades of Blue"; closing with "Now Or Later" with a cosmic synth to disorient the listener.
Say Ah!
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Summary by Bot
Madlib’s 'Say Ah!' offers a refined nu-jazz lounge experience full of soul and funk influences. The album features six tracks packed with smooth grooves, vibraphone elegance, and cosmic synths. Performed by Madlib’s fictional ensemble Yesterday New Quintet, it explores creative jazz fusion and chill vibes. The blend of jazz instrumentation with modern production creates an engaging and relaxing listening experience.
Madlib
Madlib (Otis Jackson Jr.) is an American DJ, producer, and rapper from Oxnard, California, known for a prolific, sample-driven approach spanning hip hop and jazz. A core figure of Stones Throw Records, his aliases include Quasimoto, Yesterdays New Quintet, DJ Rels, and Beat Konducta. He has collaborated widely, including with MF DOOM (as Madvillain) and Freddie Gibbs.05 Reviews
