When the Heart Emerges Glistening
by Ambrose Akinmusire
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. AllMusic
    Apr 18, 2011
    80
    When the Heart Emerges is a breakthrough jazz album that reminds us that in this music, listening closely is of equal importance to speaking out. Akinmusire excels at both.
  2. Billboard.com
    Apr 18, 2011
    80
    Akinmusire has chosen to challenge listeners, exploring free territory where Smith squeaks and squawks his way into the wilderness.
  3. Dusted Magazine
    May 4, 2011
    80
    Akinmusire easily trumps Truffaz in the area of technical skill. His agile delivery and rounded, even-tempered tone recall facets of Kenny Dorham and Dennis Gonzalez in terms of burnished beauty and melodic alacrity.
  5. Mojo
    May 18, 2011
    80
    A beguiling marriage of tradition and modernism. [May 2011, p.107]
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  6. PopMatters
    Apr 18, 2011
    90
    When the Heart Emerges Glistening is a gem. It's a jazz record to rave about and to push on your friends.
  7. The Guardian
    Apr 28, 2011
    80
    Akinmusire's arresting sound and the collective strength of his band of long-time friends--the dry-toned, Wayne Shorter-like saxophonist Walter Smith III, pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Justin Brown--power it all.
  8. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    May 31, 2011
    80
    Over 13 tunes, Akinmusire and his very hot quintet (featuring Walter Smith III on tenor sax and a great drummer, Justin Brown) take the basic format of post-bop straightahead jazz and tease it around with absolute authority.
  9. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 18, 2011
    80
    His harmonies have a louche charm, his trumpet sound has a fascinating vocal intimacy, and he makes lightning-fast interplay with the quintet, especially sax player Walter Smith III.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best Album of 2011

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