Take Five: Norah Jones, John Pizzarelli, Angélique Kidjo, Ocelot, Christopher Hoffman
Published March 29, 2021 at 3:31 AM EDT
5 of 5
— Christopher Hoffman
Cellist Christopher Hoffman, whose 'Asp Nimbus' features Bryan Carrott on vibraphone, Rashaan Carter on bass and
Craig Weinrib on drums.
Norah Jones, "It Was You (Live)"
Can it really be the case that Norah Jones has never released a live album? In the two decades since her breakthrough, there have been concert films, including the platinum-selling Live in New Orleans, and live bonus tracks, like those on a special edition of Day Breaks. But 'Til We Meet Again will be Jones' first full live release in album form.
Due out on Blue Note on April 16, it's a compilation of choice performances spanning three continents, from 2017-2019. The album's lead single, "It Was You," was captured at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, Calif. in 2018. (The song originally appeared on Jones' album Begin Again that same year.) Jones is as soulful and surefooted as ever, singing as usual at the piano; her band, with Pete Remm on organ, Christopher Thomas on bass, and Brian Blade on drums, holds down a deep-in-the-pocket groove.
'Til We Meet Again will be released on April 16; preorder here.
Angélique Kidjo, "Dignity (feat. Yemi Alade)"
"Respect is reciprocal," goes the refrain in "Dignity, a radiant new single from the Afropop queen Angélique Kidjo, featuring Yemi Alade. The track draws inspiration from widespread youth protests against police brutality in Alade's home country of Nigeria.
Angelique Kidjo - Dignity ft. Yemi Alade
The video for the song juxtaposes images from an industrial shipyard and an African village, with dance as an affirmative and unifying thread. Alade, who featured Kidjo on a single of her own last year, brings an assertive, youthful brio to the performance. But it's Kidjo who delivers the most encouraging message in the song:
A glimpse of hope in humanity
The last frontier of our own sanity
Spread your love to all equally
And plant the seeds of radical beauty
"Dignity" is available now from Verve/UMG France.
Christopher Hoffman, "Discretionary"
Best known as a longtime associate of NEA Jazz Master and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Henry Threadgill, cellist Christopher Hoffman hardly needs to prove his bona fides as an agile improviser and ensemble player. But with Asp Nimbus, his new album on Out of Your Head Records, Hoffman distinguishes himself further as a bandleader.
Christopher Hoffman - Discretionary (Official Video)