The Message

The moniker goes back at least as far as 1985's electro-funk-inflected , and picked up in earnest with 2010's eponymously titled . The only real through-line, however, is virtuoso bass pioneer , who leads his ever-evolving bands through what are usually a stylistically varied set of songs that touch upon driving jazz-fusion, funky crossover jams, harmonically nuanced acoustic modal bop, and even forays into classical. It's a cross-pollinated vibe he championed on 2014's and one he returns to with conceptual gusto on 2018's expansive . Joining him are pianist (who previously played Up), keyboardist , and drummer . Musically, each of these players are compelling in their own right, and make for a dynamic unit. While doesn't completely grab on to one central theme here, the general tone of is one of reaching for enlightenment in what often seems like a troubling, dystopian world. It's a vibe that's largely intimated in song titles like "The Rugged Truth" and "Alternative Facts," both of which marry propulsively swinging jazz-rock rhythms with sparkling keyboard work. Elsewhere, tracks like the sprawling "After the Cosmic Rain/Dance of the Planetary Prince" and "Combat Continuum," with its spoken-word narrative about a global resistance battle against an invader with "massive unknown technology," evokes '70s prog rock conceits, just as surely as it allegorically implies more contemporary social and political concerns. also bookends his album with two hip-hop jazz pieces featuring rapper , including a thrilling opening bass and beatbox homage dedicated to a handful of longtime associates who passed away while he was working on the album, including , , and others. Interestingly, the title track, while aesthetically in keeping with fusion-influenced tone of the album, finds stepping away from his bandmates and collaborating on a brightly atmospheric, new age-sounding ballad with synth and sound designer . Elsewhere, he dips into soulful pop balladry on "Lost in a World" with vocalists and , displays his adept, classical chops with a lyrical rendition of the "Bach Cello Suite 1 (Prelude)," and draws upon his work with pianist for the far-eyed acoustic jazz ballad "The Legend of Abbas and the Sacred Talisman." Ultimately, while the conceptual "message" of can often seem a bit unfocused, 's music remains as crisp and inventive as ever. ~ Matt Collar