Black Focus
by Yussef Kamaal
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
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  1. gprista
    Mar 12, 2017
    9
    An extremely brave debut for a jazz duo (that actually works like a trio). It shows that jazz still has a lot to go while Incorporating funky British sounds. It is kind of like the "acid jazz" scene is coming back, more urban and more experimental than in the 90s.
  2. NachoG
    Oct 9, 2019
    10
    New jazz that expands your senses... New meander of jazz that takes frontiers to another level. Very enjoyable.
  3. Inkeyjay
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    No okay so yeah no well hmmm liked it but no why did this r aj okay fine whatever

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Mar 15, 2017
    89
    Following in the paths of American jazz counterparts Robert Glasper and Kamasi Washington, UK jazz savants Yussef Kamaal weave a fabric of the genre steering free of up-nosed traditionalist conventions in pursuit of exploratory grooves and improvisation on Black Focus.
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  2. The Wire
    Dec 21, 2016
    80
    It’s a gorgeous sounding album, with a fat, woody drum sound and well-defined bass frequencies that are headphone umami. [Dec 2016, p.57]
  3. Mojo
    Nov 28, 2016
    60
    The London trio founded by drummer Yussef Dayes and Keyboardist Kamaal Williams give it an urban twist , factoring grime and broken beat influences into their unpredictable improvised jams. [Jan 2017, p.99]
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