Shabaka: ‘Of the Earth’

Out now on Shabaka Records is one of my picks for any ‘Best of’ list of 2026: ‘Of the Earth’ features the many sides of one of Britain’s finest instrumentalists, Shabaka.

Sometimes you come across tracks that you just want to play to everyone you meet. One such for me is Shabaka’s A Future Untold, which was originally the double lead single with Marwa the Mountain, released back in January in advance of today's launch of Of the Earth.

As a musician, Shabaka has always taken us along on his journey of discovery, from a move away from the saxophone on which he cut his jazz teeth to flutes and now back again. Indeed, every track and sound that melds together into this collection of masterpieces is created solely by this immensely talented multi-instrumentalist.

You may have come across Shabaka in his ensembles Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, and he’s always been extraordinary. As a solo performer, he seems utterly experimental in the best sense of the word, discovering new and deeply personal sounds and techniques.

The sudden end to Those of the Sky leaves the listener wanting more of the pirouetting and circling sounds.

Oh, and he raps, exhibiting a poetic side in addition to all the other musical talents. Returning to the saxophone after seemingly determinedly discarding it adds to the flutes, keyboards and everything else that he explores to such mesmeric effect.

Shabaka says: “D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar was the first CD I bought, and it sparked a lasting curiosity about the emotional possibilities allowed by the self-produced and performed album. This record is my celebration of freedom in creative self-expression. Before the pandemic I could only play the clarinet and saxophone and knew nothing about music production - or how to play the flute - so this has been a journey of learning, and a reflection on the music that’s emerged as a result.”

Take away the technicality of performing and recording, and all the tracks on Of the Earth are engaging and gripping: hearing Shabaka’s own poetic rapping on Go Astray brings him right into our ears above his flute, percussion and sounds that seem to have been recorded separately and melded together to make some sense of ideas and concepts.

Always a virtuoso, takes his disciplined approach across every single element of this fabulous album. Returning to his sax - especially on Stand Firm - is such a reward for us as his listeners. The intricacy of the ensemble work behind it  simple brings an intensity that drives the whole track along.

Listen right through to the end, where Eyes Lowered brings more rapping over an ensemble backing that seems to take inspiration and evocation from all corners of the world and Shabaka reminds us that “things aren’t always what they seem”.

And then listen again from the beginning: Of the Earth demands repeated turns around the table, with so much detail in the layers of composition and production.

Shabaka launches ‘Of the Earth’ at London’s Village Underground on 7 April 2026 or find it on Bandcamp now