Review
In the grand tapestry of musical collaborations, 'Dinner Party' is less a formal banquet and more an impromptu gathering of culinary geniuses raiding the fridge at midnight. This self-titled EP, concocted by the dream team of Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, and 9th Wonder, is a smorgasbord of genres that somehow manages to be both comforting and revolutionary.
Recorded in the hallowed halls of Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles, this seven-course meal of tracks blends rap, jazz, R&B, and 1970s soul with the finesse of a Michelin-starred chef. Kamasi Washington's saxophone weaves through the mix like a silken thread, while Robert Glasper's piano work on 'Freeze Tag' is so heartfelt it could make even the most stoic listener reach for a tissue. 9th Wonder's production adds a hip-hop kick that's more addictive than your grandmother's secret recipe, particularly evident in 'First Responders' where his beats play cat-and-mouse with Washington's sax lines.
At a mere 23 minutes, 'Dinner Party' is like that perfect amuse-bouche that leaves you satisfied yet craving more. It's a musical potluck where each artist brings their signature dish, resulting in a feast that's greater than the sum of its parts. On my proprietary scale of collaborative albums, I rate this a solid "Platypus eating sushi with chopsticks while riding a unicycle" - which, as we all know, is pretty darn impressive. - Clarence
