Songwrights Apothecary Lab

by Esperanza Spalding

Songwrights Apothecary Lab cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 24 September 2021
  • Label: Concord
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:00:53
  • Community rating: 3.31/5 from 2 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Designed as a series of healing musical 'formulations', Esperanza Spalding's deeply ambitious project blends profound spiritual jazz concepts with intricate, avant-garde vocal performances. Developed alongside music therapists and researchers, the album utilizes highly irregular rhythmic structures and lush, soothing bass lines intended to evoke specific neurological and emotional responses. It serves as an incredibly complex, academically rigorous triumph in modern vocal jazz.

Genres

Descriptors: avant-garde, progressive

Tracklist

  1. Formwela 1 (3:35)
  2. Formwela 2 [Feat. Ganavya] (6:10)
  3. Formwela 3 (7:05)
  4. Formwela 4 (4:19)
  5. Formwela 5 [Feat. Corey King] (3:32)
  6. Formwela 6 [Feat. Corey King] (3:10)
  7. Formwela 7 (3:26)
  8. Formwela 8 (11:39)
  9. Formwela 9 (4:31)
  10. Formwela 10 (3:28)
  11. Formwela 11 (3:08)
  12. Formwela 13 (6:44)

Credits

  • LaMont Hamilton - bells
  • Steve Turre - conch [conch shell]
  • Francisco Mela - drums
  • Justin Tyson - drums, percussion, vocals
  • Christopher Sholar - electric guitar
  • Matthew Stevens - guitar, arranged by [work arranger], vocals
  • Leo Genovese - piano, arranged by [work arranger], vocals, composed by [composer]
  • Wayne Shorter - saxophone

More from Esperanza Spalding: full discography