Ubunye: ‘Tell Me The Truth Or Don’t Tell Me Anything’

Taking a taste of afro-jazz and fusing musical elements from around the world, Ubunye are releasing their new album ‘Tell Me the Truth or Don’t Tell Me Anything’ on 33 Jazz Records.

Ubunye (‘Unity’) is the conception of keyboard player and lead songwriter David Evans, and Xolani Mbatha (vocals), now including Steve Hanley (drums), Nik Svarc (guitar), Sam Dutton-Taylor (bass) and Nokuthula Zondi (vocals). Joining the band on this new album are  the incredible Soothsayers horn section of Idris Rahman and Robin Hopcraft, Dave Hassell (percussion), Emma Johnson (tenor sax) and Aaron Wood (trumpet), Maja Bugge (cello) and poet Michelle Scally Clarke. In 2023, Ubunye won ‘Best UK Jazz Ensemble’ at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

From the opening of Hey Now, Ubunye’s Tell Me the Truth or Don’t Tell Me Anything crafts an exciting jazz-infused Afro-pop style combining punchy horns and vocal lines: all above a rhythm section that grooves through this and every tune. The elements combine beautifully, including traditional ‘Isigqui’ Zulu music.

The breathtaking Let Me Stay Here is an almost hymnal outlet for Mbatha’s vocals, with Svarc’s guitar guiding us through this moment. When the layers of backing vocals come in the afro-jazz-gospel feel is complete.

Tell Me The Truth or Don’t Tell Me Anything concludes with Bugge’s melodic cello on Hymn above Evans’ keyboards with expansive, expressive vocals and a calm finish to this collection of eclectic tracks.

Evans says: “Our second album explores connection - to ourselves and to others, of going beyond the ego - of recognising our struggles. Much more acoustic than our eponymous debut and a deeper reflection of how the band sound live, the album traverses  a number of themes: ‘Hey Now’ emphasises the importance of honesty, authenticity and truth - it  talks about the visceral honesty from Charlie Parker and how as musicians we look to Parker, Miles, Coltrane and others as leaders - people who expressed honesty and humanity in and through music. ‘On The Road’ is inspired by the Kerouac classic, exploring Zen Buddhist ideas. ‘Let Me Stay Here’ is a song about when everything is right and wanting to stay in those moments and ‘Flowers’ is a gratitude song for people who have helped us - maybe people who are no longer here - a special person - maybe a Mother.”

Check out the Ubunye website for tour dates across the UK.