Ancestral Recall
Ancestral Recall is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on March 22, 2019 by Ropeadope Records label. The album also features poet and songwriter Saul Williams.
The record is a follow-up album to his critically acclaimed triptych of albums named The Centennial Trilogy released in 2017. However, unlike the 2017 trilogy, Ancestral Recall is filled with many guest vocals. Scott explained that the title track and the whole album are "built as a map to decolonize sound; to challenge previously held misconceptions about some cultures of music; to codify a new folkloric tradition and begin the work of creating a national set of rhythms". To do so, he has weaved West African, First Nation, and African Diaspora/Caribbean rhythms and styles. He also mentioned that "All forms of expression in sound are valid, as all people are... this is the mantra of Ancestral Recall". The album consists of 12 tracks written mostly by Scott. The album was recorded on April 10, 15; September 6, 20; December 1, 2 of 2018 by Dave Weingarten at The Champagne Room West—and on April 29 and 30 of 2018 by Nick Guttmann at The Parlor, New Orleans, LA. The title track was released on February 5, 2019.
Wales Arts Review included the record in its list of the best 50 albums of 2019. Also, NPR included the album in its list of best music of 2019, ranking it #15.