★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Avant garde spiritual jazz

Moods

A spiritual album defined by interplay and pause

Thoughts

chilled out beautiful soulful jazz, hip, I guess you could call this spiritual jazz. I like the use of percussion and keys, it's almost just like traces of just random lines that dissolve into nothing. An avant garde tactic but here it's employed well. Flute is really difficult for me to get right but he nails it, stretching notes into texture.

Some of it gets too avant and free for my tastes like on Mappo and excursion, creates a stirring presence that in my opinion detracts from the spiritual that's on the title track and ensenada ( the latter being the real standout on the album).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Bennie-Maupin-The-Jewel-In-The-Lotus/release/13642739

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U69QwzAhz4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1LcUuxp5A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgwLP5jcjjs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW_t-kgs9pw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A78fDGSj5w

Spotify

Schema Info