Game-changing multi-instrumentalist Kamaal Williams has put together the
latest DJ-Kicks mix. Due for release on November 8th, it features four of his
own brand new and exclusive tracks and hints at the wide world of influences
that have made him one of the most prominent artists of the last few years.
Williams has taken his long standing love of seventies jazz fusion and mixed
it up with the contemporary sound of the London underground to devastating effect. House, broken beat, grime, soul, funk, hip hop and jazz all
permeate his work, which has seen him evolve from producer Henry Wu to
acclaimed live band Kamaal Williams, backed by talented drummers and
bassists. His pioneering work in the studio and live arena has influenced a
whole new generation of like-minded musicians that have helped make the
capital one of the most musically exciting and quickly evolving cities in the
world, with Williams' own virtuoso drumming and percussion right at the
heart of it all.
Kamaal Williams was one half of the duo who wrote the breakthrough
Yussef Kamaal album 'Black Focus’, one of the most talked about records
of 2016. Vinyl pressings kept selling out, it received rave reviews, earned
the band the Breakthrough Act award at the 2017 Jazz FM awards and led
to spellbinding live shows all over Europe. His follow up , The Return, came
on Williams' own new Black Focus label and took his band global, all while
picking up nominations for best independent album at the AIM Music
Awards.
Improvised rhythm and spirituality are at the heart of everything Williams
does, as is London life, with its diverse people, cultures and musical
customs all feeding into his work. That is also true when making more
electronic sounds as Henry Wu, who appears here after standout EPs on
labels like Rhythm Section International. Williams' music is so individual it is
more than deserving of its own tag: the artist himself calls it Wu Funk, and
some of the many sounds that feed into it are all showcased on this adventurous new mix.
Exclusives include a live take of 'Snitches Brew,' new Kamaal Williams
tracks 'Shinjuku' and 'Strings ATL', as well as 'Wivout U' from Henry Wu.
Those vital highlights sit next to classic jams from Southern Freeze, a strong
contingent of London innovators from K15 to Dego and Tenderlonius to
Kaidi Tatham, with funk driven house from Peven Everett, raw stuff from
Steve Julien, lush synth grooves from Lone and feel good grooves from Phil
Asher all making this is an honest and uplifting collection that, when necessary, is happy to eschew blends, fades and mixing in favour of red hot
selections and sequencing. Kamaal Williams DJ-Kicks is a fascinating
insight into the record collection of a true musical alchemist