Origami Harvest
Ambrose Akinmusire · 2018
59 min · 6 tracks · jazz
Innovative jazz interweaves intricate rhythms, spoken word, and social commentary into a profound sonic tapestry reflecting contemporary America's complexities.
Top tracks — play these first
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a blooming bloodfruit in a hoodie — This track stands out for its ambitious length and complex structure, melding improvisational sections with a haunting narrative about identity and belonging.
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Free, White and 21 — This piece acts as a bold statement on racial dynamics in America, utilizing spoken word elements that challenge listeners to confront uncomfortable truths.
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miracle and streetfight — With its dynamic contrasts and intricate layering of sounds, this track encapsulates the tension between hope and struggle prevalent throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's innovative structure and integration of spoken word elevate its distinctiveness within contemporary jazz.
What we noticed
- Spoken word elements are interspersed throughout the instrumental sections, adding layers of narrative and social commentary.
- The final track employs a gradual deceleration in tempo, creating an introspective conclusion that contrasts with the album's earlier intensity.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- extended explorations of themes
- thought-provoking soundscapes for reflection
- cathartic moments of improvisation
- deep listening for emotional resonance
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate gratification
- seek easily digestible tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Origami Harvest is Ambrose Akinmusire's fourth studio album, released after his critically acclaimed 2017 work, 'A Rift in Decorum.' At this point in his career, Akinmusire was solidifying his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist within the modern jazz scene, blending traditional elements with contemporary issues.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Kendrick Scott· Esperanza Spalding· Marcus Strickland
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 a blooming bloodfruit in a hoodie 12:59
- 2 miracle and streetfight 15:05
- 3 Americana / the garden waits for you to match her wilderness 10:40
- 4 particle / spectra 8:04
- 5 Free, White and 21 3:06
- 6 the lingering velocity of the dead's ambitions 9:54
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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