I first encountered Keyon Harrold’s musicianship as part of The Vanguard, D’Angelo’s band on 2015’s Black Messiah. Since then, his name seems to keep popping up in the credits I look up.
Foreverland is a testament to Harrold’s multifaceted talent. Not only is he an unbelievable trumpeter, but this album showcases his acumen as a producer and songwriter. It’s a masterclass in trumpet work that respects jazz’s legacy while unapologetically embracing hip-hop’s grit, all infused with the heart-wrenching emotion of R&B.
In my collection, Foreverland sits on the stoop alongside Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue, Roy Hargrove’s The RH Factor, and Robert Glasper’s Black Radio series.
For those who say they don’t “get” jazz, especially if you grew up hearing it through samples in A Tribe Called Quest or Digable Planets yet you struggle to connect with instrumental jazz, Foreverland might just be your gateway.
Favourite track: Don’t Lie
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