If you’re already across Moses Boyd, Mercury Prize-nominated, MOBO Award-winning, one of the most talked-about figures in contemporary British jazz, you know why he matters. If you’re not, ‘Say Yeah’ is as good a place as any to start. Either way, after five years largely spent working away from the spotlight, the south-east London drummer, composer and producer is back, and he sounds better than ever.
‘Say Yeah’ draws on the gospel records he grew up on - from the likes of Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin - and tucks it into jazz that’s rooted but never reverential; it’s jazz with a distinctly London accent. All with a hook so deliberately simple it works in any language. It’s euphoric and communal, exploring his relationship with faith without ever losing sight of the dancefloor, which is a hard balance to pull off.
“‘Say Yeah’ is about joy, fun and togetherness”, he says, and making a video for the track with the Woolwich Creative Club “was exactly that”, he adds. “An afternoon of pure joy and laughter from beginning to end. I want this song to be for everyone. What better way than to share it with the next generation and involve them in its story”. The video has exactly the communal feel the song is about.
More music to follow. Don’t sleep on this one.
🎧 Watch the video for ‘Say Yeah’ below