Cassie Kinoshis seed. – Gratitude

Gratitude, the debut album by the British collective Cassie Kinoshi’s SEED., is a powerful celebration of cultural identity, memory, and resistance, delivered through a rich musical language rooted in contemporary jazz, with influences from afrobeat, classical music, and African and Caribbean traditions.

Released in 2019, the album reflects both the personal and social experiences of composer and saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, as well as the collective voice of a generation of musicians using art as a form of activism. The record features intricate compositions, sophisticated arrangements, and a vibrant, urgent energy throughout, resulting in an ambitious, emotionally resonant, and politically conscious work. Gratitude stands as a landmark in the current British jazz landscape, opening space for new sonic and narrative possibilities.