(August 9, 2024) Lil John Roberts can rightly be called a musical encyclopedia. He’s been an artist who has performed in genres ranging from hip-hop to jazz to gospel to R&B and world music. Roberts is a musical prodigy whose talent was recognized by Wynton Marsalis, but he’s also a musical sponge.
That can be heard in Roberts’ latest album, Elevation. The album has a free jazz feel. You might get some Ornette Coleman vibes here. But Elevation also draws from a pot that fuses world music, native American music and New Age music. The tracks have a free flowing and open quality.
“Exhale Pt. 1,” the track featured in this First Listen, is both wide and deep enough to encompass a soulfulness that R&B fans will recognize while also maintaining that meditative vibe. The track also introduces Sun Wolf Alien, the new band that includes Roberts, vocalist and keyboardist C C Sunchild and Kebbi Williams.
“Exhale Pt. 1” is a meditative song that features C C Sunchild’s soothing vocals floating gently above the tempo set by Roberts’ work on the drums. The song’s message is one needed in the harried and stressful world that we occupy. Find that quiet space, take a deep breath, exhale and find a measure of peace. Check out “Exhale Pt. 1” by Sun Wolf Alien, here.
By Howard Dukes
