Name: The Return
Brand: Kamaal Williams

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

bfr001lp

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

180 Gram Black Vinyl with Download.

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Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2018-05-25

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5060384613413

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Kamaal Williams

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

Black Focus Records

Kamaal Williams is a British jazz keyboard player based in London, UK. He is known for his innovative and unique approach to music, blending elements of jazz, funk, and electronic music. With his distinct sound and captivating performances, Kamaal has gained a loyal following around the world.
In addition to his solo work, Kamaal also founded his own record label where he showcases talented artists and releases their music. His label has become a platform for emerging musicians to share their art with the world.
With his passion for pushing boundaries and creating genre-defying music, Kamaal Williams continues to captivate audiences with his mesmerizing compositions and energetic live shows.

Whether re-defining experimental fusion sounds with the hugley acclaimed Yussef Kamaal, or his catalogue of 12”s for imprints such as MCDE, Eglo, and Rhythm Section as Henry Wu, South London’s Kamaal Williams has been a key figure in his thriving international scene for the past few years. The Return is a natural evolution from the Yussef Kamaal project, mining the influence of visionary jazz but blended with all kinds of texture, sounds and signals from the over-saturated London streets. At times the keyboard work evokes the classic 70s fusion work of Lonnie Liston Smith or Roy Ayers, but underpinned by rhythms more reminiscent of blunted hip-hop and arrangements subliminally laced with the cut-ups of pirate radio. Progressive, funky, cosmic, exploratory and effortlessly musical, this is the sound of a musician honing their craft into thrilling new shapes. In the US the like of Kamasi Washington and Thundercat have made great strides in opening a whole new dialogue between jazz and hip-hop, drawing in a young, highly engaged new audience in the process. Kamaal Williams mine a similar seam on the other side of the Atlantic alongside other exciting London talents such as Ezra Collective, Ruby Rushton and Shabaka Hutchings. 

The Return is exactly that: a return and refinement to the sound Yussef Kamaal were progenitors of, and first set the scene for one of the most exciting musical movements London has had in years. Notable tracks for old and new listeners are Slow, Situations, Medina, London Shuffle which features Mansur Brown (of Mansur's Message) and for those die hard Yussef Kamaal fans - they should hear the interpolated roots of Strings of Light in the title track The Return. And that signature Wu Funk can be heard on Broken Theme, and High Roller. The Return is the debut album released on Wu's new label Black Focus Records.

LP+ -Limited 180 Gram White Vinyl with Download.

The Return

Music GB

Buy Kamaal Williams - The Return (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.