Blk2Life/A Future Past

by Theo Croker

Overview

Having embraced an ever-more contemporary space-funk vibe, trumpeter Theo Croker offers his most languid, R&B-infused production to date with 2021's BLK2LIFE || A FUTURE PAST. The album picks up on the Afro-futurist grooves of 2019's Star People Nation as Croker crafts a loosely conceptual atmosphere centered on themes of Black identity, reclamation of culture and ancestry, and pushing ever higher toward an enlightened future. It's a sound that's admittedly far afield of the acoustic post-bop that marked much of 2014's Afro Physicist, but one which feels like a natural extension of the '70s-inspired funk, fusion, and hip-hop that he's explored since. While hypnotic jazz-fusion and R&B are at the core of Croker's sound here, this is also one of his most pop-oriented albums, and cuts like the title track and "Happy Feet (For Dancers)," featuring singer Malaya, marry his warm trumpet lines with an infectious blend of electronic and analog rhythms. Helping Croker elevate his cross-pollinated sound are a handful of special guests, including Wyclef Jean, who outlines Croker's worldview on "State of the Union 444 || Blk2thefuture," rapping, "If you really wanna help build generational wealth, the best help is to help the people help themselves." Equally potent sentiments arrive via vocalist Ari Lennox on the effervescent ballad "Every Part of Me" and vocalist Iman Omari on the lucid, tropical dreamscape "No More Maybe." We also get vibrant contributions from saxophonist Gary Bartz, drummer/vocalist Kassa Overall, and singer Charlotte Dos Santos. With BLK2LIFE || A FUTURE PAST, Croker underlines his reputation as a jazz world builder, bridging new age space-jazz and hooky, contemporary R&B. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	11/12/2021
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262020528
catalogNumber:	2946
Rank:	80336

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Theo Croker   Primary Artist,Juno,Solina,Vocals,Balafon,Trumpet,Ambience,Sampling,Moog Bass,Flugelhorn,Percussion,Sequencing,Fender Rhodes,Drum Sequencing,Moog Synthesizer
Eric Wheeler   Fender Rhodes,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric),Prophet Synthesizer
Kassa Overall   Rap,Vocals,Sampling,Drum Sequencing,Featured Artist
Iman Omari   Vocals,Featured Artist
Ari Lennox   Featured Artist,Vocals
Charlotte Dos Santos   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Shekwoaga Ode   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Wycelf Jean   Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Jeff Parker   Guitar (Electric)
Michael King   Piano,Fender Rhodes,Prophet Synthesizer
Wyclef Jean   Featured Artist
Gary Bartz   Sax (Alto),Sax (Soprano),Featured Artist
Malaya   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Anthony Ware   Flute,Clarinet,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Alto),Clarinet (Bass)
Ego Ella May   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Theo Croker   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Mixing Engineer,Creative Director
Eric Wheeler   Arranger
Dan Goldsmith   Engineer
Jack Harper   Graphic Design
Tokio Aoyama   Cover Art
Kassa Overall   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Voice Sample,Mixing Engineer
Alex DeTurk   Mastering Engineer
Ari Lennox   Lyricist,Composer
Chris Mess   Booking,Management
Charlotte Dos Santos   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist
Coco Dotson   Creative Director
Darren Elplant   Engineer
Obi Nzeribe   Photography
Shekwoaga Ode   Arranger
Ugo Mozie   Stylist
Wycelf Jean   Composer
Michael King   Arranger
Malaya   Composer,Lyricist
Iman Omari   Composer,Lyricist
Alberto Vaccarino   Engineer
Todd Carder   Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Ego Ella May   Composer,Lyricist