Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace features contributions from André 3000, Laraaji, Lianne La Havas, Dave Okumu, Esperanza Spalding and more.
London-based composer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Shabaka Hutchings has announced the release of his debut album.
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace is scheduled for release through Impulse! Records on April 12th and marks Hutchings’ inaugural full-length statement as a solo artist following onward from 2022’s Afrikan Culture EP and a formally announced retirement from playing the saxophone that placed associated projects The Ancestors, The Comet Is Coming and Sons Of Kemet on hiatus.
The forthcoming clarinet and flute-focused album was written over a two year period and recorded at New Jersey’s fabled Rudy Van Gelder Studio with sessions taking in creative contributions from a noteworthy list of collaborators including André 3000, Armand Hammer’s Elucid, Floating Points, Laraaji, Lianne La Havas, Carlos Niño, Dave Okumu and Esperanza Spalding among others.
Hutchings shares
“I’ve been working on this body of work for nearly 2 years and it’s the album I’m most satisfied with in terms of dramatic arc and overall form. Most of the recording was done in the historic Rudy van gelder studio which is arguably the most important studio in jazz history where some of my absolute favourite records were recorded (kind of blue, a love supreme etc etc). Over 6 days I gathered my favourite US based musicians to engage with my clarinet and flute collection with no headphones or separation to see what the room brought forth.”
Hear album opener ‘End Of Innocence’ in advance and view the track list for Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace below.
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
1 ‘End Of Innocence’
2 ‘As The Planets And The Stars Collapse’
3 ‘Insecurities’ [ft. Moses Sumney]
4 ‘Managing My Breath, What Fear Had Become’ [ft. Saul Williams]
5 ‘The Wounded Need To Be Replenished’
6 ‘Body To Inhabit’ [ft. Elucid]
7 ‘I’ll Do Whatever You Want’ [ft. Floating Points and Laraaji]
8 ‘Living’ [ft. Eska]
9 ‘Breathing’
10 ‘Kiss Me Before I Forget’ [ft. Lianne La Havas]
11 ‘Song Of The Motherland’ [ft. Anum Lyapo]
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace releases on April 12th via Impulse! Records. Pre-order the album on vinyl here.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
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Fruit and Grooves Collective 