Call to Action / Call to Prayer

4 1/2-STARS A 40-minute improvisation bathed in a world of soothing meditation and emitting an infectious joy of playing. The Griots Speak — Daniel Carter, Charlie Apicella, Juma Sultan and William Parker — traverse the path set by Alice Coltrane in the early '70s, while organist Brad Whiteley and drummer Austin Walker of Iron City introduce the urban energy of modern jazz.

This 8-piece suite offers the sophisticated art of sound, motives are teethed on a drone foundation, repetition imparts a meditative character of the whole. Rich, immersive sonic world, largely composed by Tibetan gongs, Nepalese madal drum, African ngoni and gembiri, Catalan gralla clarinet, plus the sense of collective strength of well communicating instrumentalists produces a great result. Intentions and plan are no surprise - anyone familiar with their previous album "Destiny Calling" (OA2 Records, 2023), and the musicians' earnings so far, knows their priorities - but this doesn't take away the satisfaction of reading the record. Their concept of acoustic jazz is already well-known, but its basic ingredients - simplicity, harmony, narrative fluency - always have the right power of expression. The aesthetic purity of their recordings and the rich palette of sound will resonate long after the album is over.