Open Arms to Open Us

by Ben LaMar Gay

Open Arms to Open Us cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 19 November 2021
  • Label: International Anthem
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 46:03
  • Community rating: 3.46/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

The endlessly inventive Chicago multi-instrumentalist delivers a joyful, kaleidoscopic collage of jazz, electronics, and global rhythms. 'Open Arms to Open Us' freely ignores traditional genre boundaries, employing playful synthesizers, scattered brass sections, and cryptic vocal melodies to create a uniquely abstract yet accessible avant-pop aesthetic. The record is an incredibly fluid, spiritual celebration of unconstrained musical curiosity.

Genres

Descriptors: rhythmic, avant-garde, improvisation, genre-blending, polyrhythmic

Tracklist

  1. Sometimes I Forget How Summer Looks on You. (3:27)
  2. Hood Rich Happy (1:26)
  3. Bang Melodically Bang (3:09)
  4. Aunt Lola and the Quail (4:15)
  5. Mestre Candeia's Denim Hat (1:53)
  6. Oh Great Be the Lake (3:00)
  7. I Be Loving Me Some of You (2:07)
  8. Nyuzura (3:26)
  9. Slightly Before the Dawn (3:25)
  10. Lean Back. Try Igbo (1:19)
  11. Dress Me in New Love (1:53)
  12. Touch.Don't Scroll (4:25)
  13. I Once Carried a Blossom (0:59)
  14. In Tongues and in Droves (5:20)
  15. S'Phisticated Lady (1:35)
  16. We Gon Win (4:18)

Credits

  • Ben Lamar Gay - primary artist, balafon, bass drum, bass synthesizer, cornet, effects, organ, others instrument, percussion, synthesizer, tambourine, temple blocks, triangle, zither, programming, other vocals vocal
  • Ayanah Moor - task artwork
  • Johanna Brock - viola, violin, task misc
  • Matthew Davis - trombone, tuba
  • Rob Frye - flute, others instrument, percussion
  • Tommaso Moretti - drums (drum set), others instrument, percussion, xylophone
  • Tomeka Reid - violin, task misc, other vocals vocal
  • Ayanna Woods - electric bass guitar, task misc, other vocals vocal

More from Ben LaMar Gay: full discography