Grown

Waaju are an innovative Afro-Latin quintet, led by drummer Ben Brown, who regularly performs with Newham's Alfa Mist. This project, though, is very much Brown's vision. Initially inspired by Ali Farka Touré (waaju means ‘to urge and inspire’ in Bamana), the group's 2018 EP offered a snapshot of their intentions, which arrive fully formed on Grown.

Its melding of London jazz, desert blues guitar lines, and low-end groove is warm and welcoming. ‘Moleman’ is delightfully put together. Joe Downard's deliberated bass work melds well with Tal Janes’ (of Nubiyan Twist) take on Touré's guitar style, that folds out into cascading delay patterns that breach, bend and bewitch.

‘Listening Glasses’ works a wistful saxophone line into a driving groove that bursts into percussive salvo, while ‘Time's Got a Hold’ features Wandsworth's Will Heard, who offers full-bodied vocal work alongside its triplet-feel sega rhythms. ‘Wassoulou’ mellifluously meanders downstream, soaked in dub inflections, touching upon styles birthed on the banks of its titular river. The project reaches its apex with ‘Grown’, a majestic spiritual jazz masterpiece. Brown's playing is on fire, as he exploits the kit to its full potential, while Sam Ripley's saxophone soars to new heights.