sunneversetsonmusic | monthly music blog

ALBUM OF THE DAY

4 APRIL 2026

EP One & EP Two

BRIAN JACKSON, MASTERS AT WORK

Released 24 October 2025 & 6 March 2026

BBE Music

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A vibrant, cross-generational collaboration where soul, jazz and house traditions converge, driven by deep groove, legacy and a shared sense of musical purpose.

This collaboration unites two distinct but complementary legacies: Brian Jackson - keyboardist, flautist, singer, composer, and producer, best known for his seminal work with Gil Scott-Heron, and Masters At Work - the long-standing partnership of DJ, record producer Louie Vega and fellow DJ and producer Kenny Dope. Jackson brings a lineage of spiritual jazz, soul and politically conscious songwriting while The Masters contribute decades of influence in house, Latin, disco and club culture.

EP One presents interpretations and remixes of four classic Jackson & Scott-Heron tracks - "The Bottle", "Racetrack In France", "New York City" and "Winter In America". EP Two takes on Jackson & Scott-Heron's "Racetrack In France", Home Is Where The Hatred Is" and "Lady Day & John Coltrane" in addition to two new tracks composed by Jackson & Masters At Work - "Moonshine", "Now More Than Ever".

The EP's are companion pieces, parts of an evolving conversation between generations and styles.

At the musical core is Jackson’s unmistakable musical voice: warm Fender Rhodes textures, fluid harmonic movement and an instinct for melody that carries emotional and historical weight. Around this, Masters At Work construct richly layered rhythmic frameworks that are percussion-heavy, deeply syncopated and unmistakably rooted in their house lineage. Guest contributors (Omar, Josh Milan, J. Ivy, Moodyman, Carl Cornwell, Rahshaan Patterson and Rich Medina) each play a crucial role in shaping the albums’ character. Vocal performances range from soulful and direct to more expansive, improvisatory approaches, while additional instrumentation - horns, keys and rhythm sections - results in a live, collective ambience, rather than a studio-produced feel. This balance between looseness and polish is outstanding: grooves are tight, but not rigid; arrangements feel open, allowing space for interplay and subtle variation.

These recordings connect spiritual jazz, soul and dance music traditions. They feel celebratory and purposeful: music built on history, but fully alive in the present.