The Heliocentrics co-founders delve into Spiritual Jazz with a musical journey shaped by Jake Ferguson’s lifetime of music and activism, guided by the spirit of their heroes: Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and, of course, Sun Ra. Coming soon in an exclusive pre-sale on the Now-Again Bandcamp and our own webstore.
Twenty years after The Heliocentrics debut album Out There saw release on Now-Again – and following multiple albums on the label, two on producer Madlib’s imprint, and collaborations with the likes of Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke and rapper Nas – the band’s co-founder and bassist Jake Ferguson delivers the project for Now-Again that he’d always wanted to produce.
It’s a jazz album, something akin to the yearning albums of Houston’s independent jazz mavericks Bubbha Thomas and the Lightmen and pop songwriter turned revolutionary Eugene McDaniels. The term “spiritual jazz” has become a catch phrase for this seeking, often modal, deep music; Jake’s take on the genre is infused with the same sensibilities that inspired his heroes.
“I set about trying to create music they might want to listen to. I’m not sure I succeeded, but I love the concept of the private press, self-produced music project” Jake states. “Something unique and very personal to the musicians involved that’s not trying to be anything commercial or dictated by trends, something that’s truly from the heart without any boundaries or pre conceived idioms.”
His fellow Heliocentrics co-founder, drummer and producer Malcolm Catto joined him for the affair. “It has been a real honour – and by the moment a musical challenge – to be involved in Jake’s album,” Malcolm states “I am flattered that even after all these years working together as Heliocentrics he still comes to me for assistance in helping his tracks rhythmically escape. This journey, from start to finish, never ceases to amaze me.”
“I’ve always wanted to do a jazz album, although I’m not a trained jazz player by any stretch!” Jake remarks. “As the Heliocentrics’s we are into dissonance and long jams. A Life Supreme gave me the opportunity to write more freely and intentionally around melodies shaped by Mother Earth. It sounds wanky, I know, but I wanted to be open to what the universe wanted me to write.”
With all that said, sometimes, the deepest musical moments can have a mundane catalyst. In this case, it was the case of a double bass needing storage.
“A friend was moving to Denmark and couldn’t take his double bass with him so he kindly asked if I would look after it for him – an offer I couldn’t refuse as I’ve been playing electric bass with The Heliocentrics for so long,” Jake laughs. “It wasn’t long before I picked it up and started trying to get my head around it again. I decided I wanted to make an album with the double bass on most of the tracks. I then added the double bass and things really started to take shape with that organic, woody sound that only a double bass can give you. Malcolm then brought that magical drumming he brings to all the music he’s involved with – and A Life Supreme was born.”