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….