44th Move: Anthem review – veers admirably from the beaten path

(Black Acre)
Pianist and producer Alfa Mist’s latest project, with drummer Richard Spaven, showcases two musicians at the top of their game

In the London jazz scene of the past decade, pianist and producer Alfa Mist has carved out a niche of melodically intricate improvisations that play through hip-hop swing and soulful harmony. It’s a fusion best expressed across his five albums since 2015’s debut EP Nocturne, while his collaborations with other artists delve into related influences, such as lo-fi UK rap on 2016’s 2nd Exit with MC Lester Duval, and downtempo R&B on 2020’s Epoch with singer Emmavie.

Mist’s latest project, 44th Move, is a duo with drummer Richard Spaven that explores rhythm. Harnessing Spaven’s astounding capacity to play time-shifting yet metronomically perfect grooves, the duo’s debut album, Anthem, is a mighty showcase of beats and keys. Tracks such as the title number and 2nd September channel the classic Mist sound, featuring reverb-laden Rhodes chords and a laidback groove over an earworming motif, yet it’s when Anthem departs from the formula that it becomes most engaging.

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