“As Cymande urges listeners to heed the lessons of “yesterday,” the music embodies them.”
– The New York Times
“Now, with Renascence, Cymande reaches further into the vibrant spiritual and musical tapestry they started weaving all those years ago.”
– NPR Music
“Cymande returns with a haze of engrossing funk”
– OkayPlayer
“It’s powerful to hear such storied innovators still.”
– Relix
“living up to the sky-high standards of their 70s arc, it’s a heady dose of spiritual funk that leans into the free expression of jazz.”
– Clash Magazine
“A well-deserved victory lap… Renascence finds Cymande firmly in the pocket”
– MOJO
READ NEW YORK TIMES FEATURE HERE
January 31, 2025 – Today, legendary British band Cymande release their highly anticipated new album, Renascence, released today via BMG – listen here. Also released today is new single “Coltrane,” a jazz-infused hommage to the legendary artist and activist - listen here.
In addition to their US tour, which kicks off in New York City at Irving Plaza on February 13, hitting major cities including Chicago, DC and Los Angeles, Cymande today have announced a brand new European headline tour, with dates in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and more – full dates below. Tickets for all shows will go on sale next Friday February 7th.
A true return to form and jewel in the crown of their iconic discography, Renascence picks up where their 1974 album Promised Heights left off – a spiritual and sonic follow-up, bringing a fresh modern edge to their iconic sound, which remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk scenes in the United States and UK. Renascence tells the story of a band that never fully got its due back in the day; but are back to take the crown by remaining true to themselves – politically aware, and spiritually positive with infectious grooves.
Their latest single “Coltrane,” out today, is a nod to the multi-faceted legacy of John Coltrane and exemplifies Cymande’s long-held deep jazz influences. “Coltrane” strikes a balance between tight arrangement and a loose comfort, dancing between genres like funk, jazz and Caribbean, that meld so naturally. Its slinking bassline, modal jazz influences, atmospheric shimmers of strings and wails of horns, including saxophone, all underscore the refrain, “Music is the message that creation sent.”
Guitarist Patrick Patterson says, “It came out of an original rhythm track that Ray [vocalist] put together called Early Morning. The rhythm created certain picture ideas in one’s mind which led to the way we developed the lyric. Also it had a jazzy thing, which brought about the concept about writing something relating to Coltrane. That’s a real three-part thing we put together with everybody making their contribution. I suspect it’s the same for all black musicians, what Coltrane represents in terms of artistry is the pursuit of the highest possible quality.”
Bassist, Steve Scipio adds “And Coltrane was also political! He wasn’t just an artist, and that was also one of the attractions. Although a quiet man by nature, he was aware of the issues that affected black people. This song is in recognition of his music, his creativity and his importance as a jazz musician.” | 
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