MALIK By Venna
MALIK, debut album of Grammy-award winning saxophonist, Venna, is a playground for punchy and soulful instrumentations, paired occasionally with vocals and poetry, to dance around each other in ways that transport the listener into new spaces and re-contextualize what jazz really is.
Venna, whose real name is Malik Venner, says “The album MALIK was named by my mother 26 years before the album was made – on the day I was born. A strong name that means King or leader in Arabic. A name that I’ve lived with all my life. A name that my nearest and dearest have called me & a name that I’ve learnt to become.”
Music has been Venna’s friend through the years (he learnt how to read music at 6 and started playing saxophone at 12) and while working with artists such as Burna Boy, Beyoncé, Kali Uchis, Wizkid, Knucks, etc. he has learnt to understand his voice within the music conversation and has drawn influences from his travels while touring and working with other artists.
The value of this debut record is emphasized by this being self-titled as it is a body of work inspired by his already extensive list of collaborations, experiences and travels.
It's almost as if he is inviting us to experience, through this album. the places and the music he has absorbed through the years.
The feeling of home and authenticity is evident through "MALIK" as it feels like a project made by people who understand each other well and understand how to convey emotions through the musical elements in ways that align with Venna's vision.
Artists such as Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino, Miles Clinton James, Marco Bernardis, AOD and more control the instruments heard through multiple tracks on the album.
He has always expanded the boundaries of jazz and with this album, Venna explores blending traditional jazz with elements from r&b, rap, bossa nova, afrobeats, electronic and soul.
In MALIK, the instruments sing to each other and coincide in ways that feel true to the sound Venna is known for while reinventing the different ways these elements can convey the soul and emotion of the music.
Whether it be in songs such as Sao Paulo Interlude which feels like a band rehearsal being recorded on a tropical beach or My Way, a soulful and bass heavy song that reminds us of night time radio, or Mr. Popular ft. Smino, an authentic and purposefully messy song which calls to mind the roots of rap with desk-drumming and rap challenges, these instruments are able to take us on a sonic journey as they metamorphose beautifully through each song.
The hurried guitars, subtle synths, pronounced saxophone, calling strings, reshape and find themselves throughout MALIK in forms that make you move and feel.
Songs like Myself ft. Jorja Smith and Twisting ft. Leon Thomas, Veranda ft. CARI see expressive and layered instruments accompanying soulful vocals and inflections. Venna's own voice is heard through out MALIK in songs such as Prophet, Raggo Rock, Zazu, Day x2 ft. MIKE & Marco Bernardis as he provides necessary vibrations, chants and poetry necessary to present the essence of the music.
MALIK expresses how Venna hears the world today and through these tracks, he explores the different ways he's living up to the name his mother gave him. Malik means King and this album reminds us why Venna has accomplished all he has; because he understands music and stands as a vessel of it.