The Ecleftic
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
Ever since Wyclef Jean sang 'No Woman, No Cry' by iconic idol Bob Marley, serving as his music muse. Settling 'The Score' of quite possibly the best hip-hop album of all-time, by one of its greatest groups. Ever since then, you just knew Jean was more than a real rapper. I mean, here's a guy who once rhymed in multiple languages, leaving us Bill Murray in translation. Opening the Fugees 2005 reunion show at the then M.E.N. arena in Manchester, England. Telling the usher, " I used to do your job, give me your jacket." All before rocking out in that garishly legendary M.E.N. arena blazer yellow. Something previously embarrassing, but then instantly iconic, as everyone in attendance wanted their own like golf's green jacket for The Masters, or the Naismith's Basketball Hall of Fame orange. Wyclef wasn't playing before he introduced a 'Ghetto Superstar' and Ms. Hill.
Carnivals of 'Ecleftic' classics by the hip-hop number have given us further rhyme to this reason. But now, Wyclef Jean takes a real quantum leap, like Scott Bakula. Showing us, he's got the jazz, akin to tribes that go quest. This q-tip in your ear, in all its abstractions offers up the 'Q Theory- Quantum Leap Vol. 2'. "So smooth and sweet" according to a brilliant bassist I know, these sounds fill up the scape with yet another scope to Jean's range. Following the 'Clef Notes' of volume one and the time 'Wyclef (Went) Back To School' in 2019. Taking us all to it as this jazz project explores the history of his Haitian roots and the inspirations of the late, great Quincy Jones' improvisations. What results in this second chapter is something else. Something thrilling in the same N.M.F. weekend where we get new, posthumous Prince ('Timeless'), fellow dread-ditcher Busta Rhymes bringing the late, great J Dilla back for 'Dillagence II', and Erykah Badu and The Alchemist becoming Abi and Alan 'Before The World Blows'.
The Alchemist, like the restaurant in Manchester, just mixed a classic concoction to give us Badu's best yet. Jazz is doing the same for Jean. Two classic catalogues have just become all the more compelling for a culture that needs to be celebrated in all corners of the world it unites, lyrically and sonically. Jean used to get down with the great Jerry Wonda. Here, under the piano with an acoustic, like the black and white album artwork of a young boy with innocence and fire in his eyes...and a couple of record sleeves by his side, he brings forth some friends to the fore for his foray into the world of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Most notably, modern-day great Robert Glasper, Godwin Louis, Theo Croker and many, many more. The glasses on the table of the cover may be empty, but the hearts and musical minds are full. Right to the brim as you raise a glass in the 'French Quarter', or toast to those 'Harlem Nights' in a New York, 'Clef once called New Jerusalem on the iconic sequel to a classic, 'Carnival II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant'.
'Rocinha', with Glasper, Godwin and Patrick Pelissier just takes you there. Right into the heart of those beautiful Brazilian favelas. Sounding like a halfway house between Thelonious and the inspired intro to Spielberg's 'Catch Me If You Can'. 'Lady Havana' stamps even more passports in perfect percussion and poise, as Theo, Yiyi Sanchez and Axel Tosca. From 'Silk & Sand', featuring Jean Caze, Godwin Louis, Weedie Braimah and Axel Tosca, to 'Sugarcane & Watermelon', this Ecleftic epic encompasses it all, as Jean builds another band of brothers and sisters. Taking wing with Bradford Hayes on the God reaching 'Pegasus'. 'Farafina', alongside Robert Glasper, Elena Pinderhughes, Godwin Louis and Arden Altino, is so fresh you can touch it. And there are even some lyrics amongst all the licks here for this rolling stone, cold as ever. Alas, it's the curtain of a 'Toussaint Louverture' (feat. Mushy Widmaier, Dadi Beauburn, Jean Caze, Papa Jube, Emmanuel Laine and Weedie Braimah) that let the horns blow, like Gillespie, for his home. There's no place like it. Nothing sounds as good. Not even Andre 3000 with a flute, but we'd love to see this Fugee and that Outkast play together under a new blue sun. Get your blue notes ready.
Playlist Picks: 'French Quarter (Feat. Harvey Mason Jr., Niia, Robert Glasper & Theo Croker)', 'Sugarcane & Watermelon (Feat. Godwin Louis, Harvey Mason Jr. & Weedie Braimah)', 'Harlem Nights (Feat. Axel Tosca, Emmanuel Laine, Emmanuel Najee, Godwin Louis, Melky Jean & Patrick Pelissier)'.
Spin This: Wycelf Jean - 'J'ouvert'.
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