Provided by Apple Music
With a focus on jazz in celebration of Black Music Month this year, Apple Music has partnered with award-winning artist and producer Robert Glasper to exclusively release his latest album, Let Go. (The Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist's latest project is available now on Apple Music.)
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In announcing the new partnership, Ebro Darden, global editor-in-chief of hip hop and R&B at Apple Music, said, “At Apple Music, we understand that jazz is the foundation not only of Black music, but of all popular music, so we needed to make it a priority to focus and expand on jazz.”
As the title suggests, “Let Go” aims to help recalibrate people's minds in a world full of challenges. One of the album's few vocal tracks is “Breathing Underwater,” which features a guest appearance by artist and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello. Going forward, Apple Music's exclusive partnership with Glasper will include additional albums, radio shows and live performances from the musicians.
“Throughout my career, people have told me that my music is meditative,” Glasper said of Let Go in an Apple Music announcement. “They study to my music, they pray to my music, they do yoga to my music, they just zone out. People have been wanting me to do this for a long time. I wouldn't call it a 'meditation project' or anything, but it's something that helps you find your center. It helps you quiet the world and look within yourself.”
Among the musicians who contributed to the album's instrumental tracks are drummer Kendrick Scott, bassist Bernice Travis and guitarist Chris Scholer, with Glasper stating, “The musicians are so important, because they have to have the same flow and the same center.” [For example]The drummer is a water sign. Everything he plays is water. He feels like water. And that's what I wanted for this song. I wanted it to be liquid.”
In celebration of Juneteenth (June 19), Apple Music's jazz offering will expand with Freedom Songs 2024. The playlist of original songs and covers will be performed by the next generation of jazz musicians, including Lakesia Benjamin, Theo Croker, Savannah Harris, J. Hoard, Alexis Lombre, Endair Owens, Joel Ross, Cisco Swank, Kamasi Washington and Immanuel Wilkins. Apple will also be offering a curated collection of music that highlights the role jazz has played and continues to play in other genres, including hip hop, rock, R&B/soul, dance and electronic music, through albums, playlists and radio episodes that pay tribute to jazz heroes past and present.
Glasper's last official release was 2022's Black Radio III. The album features a diverse roster of R&B, hip-hop and jazz artists, including the aforementioned Ndegeocello, Esperanza Spalding, Killer Mike, Q-Tip, H.E.R. and Gregory Porter. The album won a Grammy Award last year for Best R&B Album.
Listen to “Let Go” below.