Phil Dawson Quintet Don't Waste Your Ancestors' Time

Phil Dawson,UK guitarist and producer, learned his trade with legends like South African jazz trumpet giant Hugh Masekela, Nigerian Afrobeat co-creator Tony Allen, Ethio- jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, and Ghanaian afro-rock dons Osibisa as well as a large handful of Brit Jazz and cultural fusion projects.
'Don't Waste Your Ancestors' Time'creates a new blend of Afro- and Afro-Brazilian grooves, high-level improv and dub, and boasts an array of collaborators that push the music in new directions - spoken word artistKhadijatou Doyneh(Heliocentrics); saxophonistTony Kofi(Abdullah Ibrahim, Jazz Jamaica, Cymande etc), top pianistSam Leak(Aquarium),Afrobeat maestroDele Sosimi,who vocalises in contexts he's not been heard in before; progressive UK tenor playerJohn Martin; Ruby Rushton'sNick Walterson trumpet; Nigerian singerBiola Dosunmu(Estuary 17); Bellowhead and Dele's horn arranger, trombonistJustin Thurgur,as well as a cameo fromTamar Collocutor.The album's title paraphrases novelistWole Soyinkain a plea to all not to throw away what their ancestors fought for - whether that's through ignoring spiritual heritages, allowing ourselves to be divided and conquered, or turning a blind eye to contemporary injustices....
Track listing and info
Ghanaba
A tribute to master drummer and cultural fusion pioneer Kofi Ghanaba (Guy Warren) that spans Ghana highlife, hints of William Onyeabor, Joao Donato-style keys, and sections of both Elvinesque polyrhythm and baiao... featuring Tony Kofi on tenor sax doing his Pharaoh thing, and Rowland Sutherland with a dazzling flute solo.
Tony Kofi - tenor sax; Rowland Sutherland - flutes; Maurizio Ravalico - percussion; Matheus Nova - bass; Marius Rodrigues - drums; Phil Dawson - guitar, synth, Hohner clavinet

Ile (part 1)
Yoruba multi-vocals from Dele Sosimi and Biola Dosunmu, together with mind-bending solos from Sam Leak (piano), John Martin (tenor sax) and Rowland Sutherland (flute) in a Kamasi-meets-late Coltrane mode, morphing into a vintage bossa stew and dedicated to the gods of abundance.
Dele Sosimi and Biola Dosunmu - vocals; Rowland Sutherland - flute; John Martin - tenor sax; Justin Thurgur - trombone; Tom Allan - trumpet; Sam Leak - piano; Phil Dawson: guitars, electric piano, fx; Maurizio Ravalico - percussion; Basile Petit - double bass; Marius Rodrigues - drums

Pralaya
Cosmic interlude with a hint of 'He loved him Madly' that tectonically moves into electro- samba vibes.
Phil Dawson: guitars, electric piano, fx; Basile Petit: double bass; Maurizio Ravalico: percusssion; Marius Rodrigues: drums

Shifting Sands (Mainline)
A poem by Khadijatou, philosophising from her immediate surroundings in a backdrop of warped highlife guitar and 'Filles de Kilimanjaro'-inspired Fender Rhodes with flute commentary from Rowland.
Khadijatou Doyneh - vocals; Rowland Sutherland - flute; Basile Petit - double bass; Phil Dawson: guitar, Rhodes; Maurizio Ravalico - percussion; Marius Rodrigues - drums
Now Rise Up
Bikutsi meets dub, building to a joyous cacophony of flute and percussion.
Nick Walters - trumpet; Rowland Sutherland: flute; Maurizio Ravalico - percussion; Phil Dawson - guitar, fx, electric piano; Matheus Nova - bass; Marius Rodrigues - drums
Ile (part 2) a.k.a Ile (Iyesa)
A unique blend of Afro-brazilian ijexa (iyesa) groove and Yoruba vocal from Dele and Biola, with a lyric on the spiritual side of hard work...
Dele Sosimi, Biola Dosunmu - vocals; Phil Dawson - electric piano, guitar, fx; Rowland Sutherland - flute; Maurizio Ravalico - percussion; Matheus Nova - bass; Marius Rodrigues - drums