Dinner Party is a super group composed of Kamasi Washington on saxophone, Robert Glasper on Piano, and Terrace Martin sharing duties on saxophone and production. The outfit initially formed in 2020 and released the critically acclaimed self-titled EP.
Kamasi Washington is best known for his solo work on 2015’s “The Epic” and 2018’s “Heaven and Earth”. Washington also has a laundry list of collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Snoop Dogg to name a few.
Robert Glasper’s most infamous solo work is the Black Radio series of LPs. Like Washington, Glasper has collaborated with Kendrick and Herbie Hancock as well as Big K.R.I.T., Brittany Howard, and Anderson .Paak.
Terrace Martin is a producer and multi-instrumentalist also based in LA who runs the Sounds of Crenshaw label that released “Enigmatic Society”. My first encounter of Martin’s Solo work was 2021’s “Drones”. I highly recommend you give it a listen if you enjoy Dinner Party. “Drones” is heavy in hip hop sound with features from Kendrick, Snoop, YG, and D Smoke.
“Enigmatic Society” is the full length follow up to Dinner Party’s self titled EP. Chicago based artist Phoelix and producer 9th Wonder are back for several tracks after being on the EP. New comers Ant Clemons, Arin Ray, and Tank also contribute vocals.
The album builds off the EP while taking the sound in some new directions. The most noticeable is the tone of the lyrics being upbeat and affirming. The album is also quieter allowing more space for the instruments to breathe, especially the piano.
This positive and easy going vibe of the album is apparent in the second track “Breathe”. The lyrics in the first verse set the mood for this project. “Don’t worry about it, You’ve had a long day, Just don’t say nothing, I’ve got your shift today, Just take a second, breathe”. This is a song that I love to throw on when feeling stressed and it helps ease whatever I’m going through.
“Can’t Go” brings a lively energy with a play on Daryl Hall and John Oates’ classic, “I Can’t Go For That”. It’s a fun twist and I enjoy the looping of the Hall & Oates chorus interspersed with Phoelix’s vocals. It’s surprising how well Dinner Party’s sound can pair with 80’s pop music.
The Closer “Love, Love” is another standout. The first verse really summarizes the themes throughout the album. “I love you, for who you are, and not who they want you to be, there’s no one like you, and I want you to know, I love you”.
If I could describe this album in two words, it would be “Unconditional Love”. It’s a powerful thing that I believe we all need at times and why so many seek religion and God. This album can help fill that void and I know that I will come back to it when seeking some love from the universe.
This album is definitely close to my heart and will make my best of year list for 2023.
