Yesterdays New Quintet - Angles Without Edges (2001)

Yesterdays New Quintet is a jazz project created by hip hop producer Madlib, who plays all the instruments under different pseudonyms. The project debuted with the album Angles Without Edges in 2001, which showcases Madlib's skills as a multi-instrumentalist and his love for jazz fusion. The album features 19 tracks that blend live instrumentation, samples, loops, and programming, creating a unique and eclectic sound that defies genre boundaries.

The Concept

Madlib conceived Yesterdays New Quintet as a fictional quintet or virtual band, consisting of five members: Monk Hughes on bass, Ahmad Miller on vibraphone, Joe McDuphrey on keyboards, Malik Flavors on percussion, and Otis Jackson Jr. on drums. All of these are aliases used by Madlib himself, except for the latter, which is his real name. Madlib recorded the album in his home studio, dubbed The Dump, and in another studio called The Bomb Shelter, using various instruments and equipment. He then arranged and edited the recordings to create the illusion of a live band playing together.

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The name Yesterdays New Quintet is a homage to the jazz group Yesterdays New Quintet, which was formed by pianist Herbie Hancock in 1968 and featured Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Joe Henderson on saxophone, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums. The group recorded one album, titled Speak Like a Child, which is considered a classic of jazz fusion. Madlib was inspired by Hancock's experimental approach and his use of electric instruments and synthesizers.

The Music

The music of Angles Without Edges is diverse and adventurous, ranging from mellow and soulful to upbeat and funky. The album opens with "Prelude", a short introduction that sets the mood with a soothing keyboard melody and a sample of a woman's voice saying "Welcome to Yesterdays New Quintet". The next track, "Julani", is a tribute to Madlib's son Julian, featuring a playful bass line and a catchy vibraphone riff. "Papa" is a cover of a song by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, with a groovy afrobeat rhythm and horns. "Keeper of My Soul" is another cover, this time of a song by jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr., with a smooth and jazzy vibe. "The One Who Knows" is a original composition by Madlib, featuring a haunting keyboard melody and a sample of a man's voice saying "The one who knows is the one who knows".

"The Birth of YNQ" is a track that explains the origin of the project, with Madlib narrating over a funky beat and samples of various jazz musicians. He says: "Yesterdays New Quintet was born in the summer of 2000. I had just moved into this new spot called The Dump. It was nothing but instruments everywhere: keyboards, basses, drums, guitars, vibes. I started messing around with them, trying to learn how to play them. I recorded everything I played and put it on tape. Then I took the tapes to another spot called The Bomb Shelter, where I had more equipment: samplers, turntables, computers. I started chopping up the tapes and putting them together in different ways. I added some loops and some drums and some effects. And that's how Yesterdays New Quintet was born."

"Paladium" is another tribute track, this time to jazz drummer Roy Ayers, who recorded a song with the same name in 1977. The track features a funky bass line and a vibraphone solo by Ahmad Miller. "Life's Angles" is a track that reflects on the ups and downs of life, with Madlib rapping over a soulful beat and samples of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. He says: "Life's angles got me tangled up like fishing lines / Sometimes I feel like giving up but then I change my mind / Cause life is what you make it / You gotta take it as it comes / Sometimes you gotta break it / You gotta shake it till it's done". "Thinking of You" is another original composition by Madlib, featuring a romantic keyboard melody and samples of Minnie Riperton and Stevie Wonder.

"Uno Esta" is a track that showcases Madlib's skills as a keyboardist, featuring a complex and fast-paced piano solo by Joe McDuphrey. "Rugged Tranquility" is a track that contrasts the smooth and the rough, with a mellow keyboard melody and a hard-hitting drum beat. "Daylight" is a track that celebrates the sun, with a bright and cheerful vibe and samples of Earth, Wind & Fire and Roy Ayers. "Hot Water" is a track that simulates the sound of water, with a bubbling bass line and a dripping percussion. "Mestizo Eyes" is a track that pays homage to Madlib's mixed heritage, with a latin-flavored rhythm and samples of Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria.

"Sun Goddess" is another cover, this time of a song by jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, who recorded it with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1974. The track features a funky bass line and a keyboard solo by Joe McDuphrey. "Kuhn's Theme" is a track that honors jazz pianist Steve Kuhn, who recorded a song with the same name in 1971. The track features a melancholic piano melody and samples of Kuhn's voice. "Little Girl (Dakota's Song)" is another tribute to Madlib's son Julian, featuring a tender keyboard melody and samples of Julian's voice. "Broken Dreams" is a track that expresses Madlib's frustrations and aspirations, with Madlib rapping over a dark and moody beat and samples of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He says: "Broken dreams are all I got / Sometimes I feel like I'm on the spot / But I gotta keep on pushing / Cause I know I got something / Something that the world needs to hear / Something that will make them cheer / Something that will make them say / Yesterdays New Quintet is here to stay". The album closes with "Last Day", a short outro that features a sample of a woman's voice saying "Thank you for listening to Yesterdays New Quintet".

The Reception

Angles Without Edges received positive reviews from critics and fans, who praised Madlib's creativity and versatility as a producer and musician. The album was also influential in the development of the nu jazz genre, which combines elements of jazz, hip hop, electronic music, and other styles. The album was followed by several EPs and albums by Yesterdays New Quintet and its spin-off projects, such as Yesterdays Universe, Sound Directions, The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble, Jackson Conti, and Young Jazz Rebels.

If you are interested in learning more about Yesterdays New Quintet and Angles Without Edges, you can check out the following sources:

[Wikipedia article]

[Discogs page]

[AllMusic review]

[Pitchfork review]

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