Rastafari cover

Rastafari

Wadada Leo Smith · 1983

39 min · 4 tracks · jazz

A spiritual exploration where intricate trumpet melodies intertwine with rich, textured rhythms and contemplative improvisation.

Spotify Apple Music
Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Rastafari — The title track serves as a powerful introduction, blending spiritual themes with complex trumpet lines that set the tone for the album's exploration of identity.
  • →
    Rituals — This track showcases Smith’s improvisational prowess, utilizing extended techniques on the trumpet while creating a meditative atmosphere that embodies the album's spiritual essence.
  • →
    Madder Lake — With its layered textures and rhythmic complexity, this piece exemplifies the seamless integration of jazz with world music influences, highlighting Smith's innovative compositional style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate interplay of trumpet and rhythm showcases strong composition and craft, while its cultural fusion adds to its distinctiveness.

What we noticed

  • The album features extended trumpet solos that often weave in and out of complex rhythmic patterns, creating a fluid dialogue between melody and rhythm.
  • Each track is built around a central theme, with improvisation allowing for exploration while maintaining a cohesive sound throughout.
  • The use of silence and space is prominent, with pauses strategically placed to enhance the emotional weight of the music.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Rastafari 7:30
  • 2 Rituals 11:56
  • 3 Madder Lake 11:05
  • 4 Little Bits 9:10

What to play next

Human Rights
Listen next

Human Rights

1986
Go in Numbers
Go back to

Go in Numbers

1982
Full Wadada Leo Smith discography Where to start with Wadada Leo Smith Artists like Wadada Leo Smith
jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata