"Burn", the aptly titled debut from the quartet known as Sons Of Kemit doesn’t just burn, it scorches. The ten track debut is a fusion of African, folk and spiritual Jazz rhythms that is engaging, intense and defies categories. Clarinetist/Saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings apprenticeship with Courtney Pine and Tomorrow’s Warriors has served him well here. His explosive playing and ambitious compositions is complimented by the dual drumming of Tom Skinner and Seb Rochford. On "Inner Babylon" Hutchings and Tuba player Oren Marshall rhythmic explorations and lyrical content extend into Afro-Caribbean ancestry. "Adonia’s Lullaby" evokes deep passion and emotions highlighted by Hutching’s melodic clarinet rhythms. Each member is a leader in their own right yet they come together focused on their take on the movement of the African Diaspora and the result is one of the best records of the year.
