Nubya's 5ive

Released on Jazz Re:freshed’s own label, Nubya’s 5ive showcases Nubya and her team, displaying both conventional jazz compositional work with more contemporary ideas and themes. ‘Lost Kingdom’ maintains a neo-soul quality, but just slightly looser in feel, with Nubya’s at times hypnotic playing style working well alongside the rest of group. ‘Fly Free’ which is a more ensemble affair, heads in a slightly more spiritual jazz direction featuring some excellent interaction between Boyd, Casimir and Joe Armon-Jones. The vaguely Dilla-influenced ‘Hold’ maintains a melodic centre until about the midpoint where the playing becomes more frantic and unattached, especially via Theon Cross and drummer Femi Koloeso. Track four, ‘Contemplation’, begins with some meandering upright bass before Nabiya’s sultry but not cheesy playing weaves between the trio of piano, bass and drums, and ‘Red Sun’ is more of a bop workout for the guys. Finally, an alternate version of ‘Hold’ is provided, with its slight increase in tempo to the original and with more pronounced Afro beat leanings within the rhythm section.
Artwork – JM*
Bass – Daniel Casimir (2)
Drums – Femi Koloeso* (tracks: A1, A3, B3), Moses Boyd
Engineer – David Holmes*
Mastered By – Cicely Balston
Mixed By – David Wehinm
Photography By – Eric Karsenty
Piano – Joe Armon-Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Nubya Garcia
Trumpet – Sheila Maurice-Grey (tracks: A1)
Tuba – Theon Cross (tracks: A3, B3)