Richie’s vocals on “Set it Free” demonstrate that the core of the thriving London jazz scene, many of whom met as teenagers through the London jazz education organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, continue to collaborate and share their success. Among the notable musicians featuring on Odyssey are keys player Joe Armon-Jones, known for his work with Ezra Collective as well as solo material, and Sheila Maurice-Grey, also of KOKOROKO.

The laid back neo-soul “Set it Free” features a winding hypnotic melodic motif above a minimal and bare rhythmic backing. The track is a relative rarity among Garcia’s  catalogue for incorporating vocals, on which Richie explores registers ranging between soulful breathy delivery and tribal chanting styles, in a rhythmic scheme loosened from the band all throughout.

The first of the album’s singles, “The Seer” was released on June 13 and showcased the array of young UK jazz talent that has coalesced around Garcia and which will ornament the Odyssey album. “The Seer” is an energetic post bap track, setting Garcia’s legato improvisation above quartal harmony reminiscent of  McCoy Tyner and frenetic drumming. The Latin big band ballad “Clarity” followed as the album’s third single to be previewed, studded with rich orchestral textures and bossa nova influences.

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von N U B Y A G A R C I A (@nubya_garcia)

Odyssey will follow Garcia’s 2020 full-length debut Source, which drew praise for its blending of jazz forms with Latin and dub genres and solidified the composer and saxophonist as a leading light in the London jazz scene, with Pitchfork calling the album “a stunning introduction”. Garcia described Source as ” a story about my heritage, my ancestry, exploring those places and those stories from my parents and my grandparents.”

Garcia is playing an intimate show to launch Odyssey on the eve of the album’s September 20 release date at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), after a series of London homecoming shows kicking off this Saturday. The London run will include performances at All Points East Festival, as well as a precursor to the launch performance, also at ICA. Of the Odyssey launch show, Garcia wrote on Instagram: “Join us on 19th September at the ICA. I’ve been wanting to do an intimate show in London for a while now, and this is the perfect opportunity. Very limited tickets on sale from this Friday.”

Garcia will then head to Australia for two performances in October, before returning to Europe for a short run hitting cities in Italy and Germany.

The shortlist has been shared on social media and includes five debuts: Arlo Parks, Celeste, Black Country, Nubya Garcia and Berwyn.

The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Shortlist has been announced!

Congratulations to:@arloparks@berwynberwyn_@BCNRband@celeste@floatingpoints@THEREALGHETTS@Hanpeel@lauramvula@mogwaiband@nubya_garcia@SaultGlobal@wolfalicemusic #HyundaiMercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/Z728zcSuXR

— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) July 22, 2021

The list also includes Wolf Alice, who won the prestigious award back in 2018 for “Visions of A Life” and acknowledgement for their debut album “My Love Is Cool” in 2015. Mvula was nominated twice before, in 2013 for “Sing To The Moon” and in 2016 for “The Dreaming Room“.

Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey and Laura Marling are the only ones with three nods each, and Harvey is the only artist with two wins.

“The Mercury Prize is known for championing a wide range of musical genres, with Primal Scream winning the first award in 1992 and artists including Ms Dynamite, Pulp, Dave, Roni Size, Skepta, Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and The XX among the acts who went on to claim the prize“. 

The records will be judged by a panel of music critics and industry professionals. This year it will be three-time nominee Anna Calvi, Dj and radio presenter Annie Mac, Musician Jamie Cullum and last year winner Michael Kiwanuka.

The 2021 eligibility period for best album ran from 18th July 2020 to 16th July 2021. David Wilkinson, A mercury Price chairman said that even though last year has been challenging, “creatively, this is shaping up to be an exceptional year for British music – with so many outstanding albums“.

The gala will take place on 9th September at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. More info about it can be found on the official website.

See the shortlist for Hyundai Mercury Prize 2021:
Arlo Parks: “Collapsed in Sunbeams”
Berwyn: “Demotape/Vega”
Black Country, New Road: “For the First Time…”
Celeste: “Not Your Muse”
Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / The London Symphony Orchestra: “Promises”
Ghetts: “Conflict of Interest”
Hannah Peel: “Fir Wave”
Laura Mvula: “Pink Noise”
Mogwai: “As the Love Continues”
Nubya Garcia: “Source”
Sault: “Untitled (Rise)”
Wolf Alice: “Blue Weekend”

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

Described on the Bandcamp release page as combining a “myriad sounds from her youth”, “Source” re-works her 2018 song of the same name, taken from her EP When We Are. This version swaps the lighter, nu-jazz tempo of the original by anchoring the groove with a dub-infused bass so thick that Garcia’s signature tenor sax only just slices its way through. Speaking on what inspired this “paean to personal power”, Garcia reflects that what makes her feel powerful is the feeling of “being ok with reaching out to people and supporting one another”; a message that bears repeating in our current climate.

After 2 EPs I’m excited to announce my DEBUT ALBUM…! Featuring some very special people in my life, @dancasimirmusic @BarrellJones @joeArmonJones @CassieKinoshi @_rich_chie @smauricegrey @akenyamusic and La Perla!

Released August 21st + up for preorder now on @Bandcamp pic.twitter.com/QLFxNaQXXc

— Nubya Garcia (@nubya_garcia) July 16, 2020

Aside from the EPs Nubya’s 5ive and When We Are, the award-winning saxophonist has performed on several high profile jazz releases that have come out of the capital over the last few years. Her credits include Yazz Ahmed’s Polyhymnia, Moses Boyd’s Dark Matter from earlier this year, and the Mercury Prize-nominated Your Queen is a Reptile by Shabaka Hutchings’ band Sons of Kemet. 

SOURCE will arrive on the 21st of August via Concord Jazz Records on double LP, CD and as a digital download. Tracks “Source” and “Pace” are available for purchase and streaming now. See the tracklist for SOURCE below:

SOURCE Tracklist:

1. “Pace” (featuring Ms MAURICE, Cassie Kinoshi, Richie Seivwright)
2. “The Message Continues“
3. “Source“
4. “Together Is A Beautiful Place To Be“
5. “Stand With Each Other” (featuring Ms MAURICE, Cassie Kinoshi, Richie Seivwright)
6. “Inner Game“
7. “La cumbia me está llamando” (featuring La Perla)
8. “Before Us: In Demerara & Caura” (featuring Ms MAURICE)
9. “Boundless Beings” (featuring Akenya)