On ‘The Myth We Choose,’ Nduduzo Makhathini Reimagines Spiritual Jazz for a Fractured World (ALBUM REVIEW) (opens in new tab)

When we first heard pianist, composer, healer, and bandleader Nduduzo Makhathini’s Blue Note debut, 2020’s Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworld, our initial impression was mainly a South African variation on the sound of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner. While those giants remain two of Makhathini’s most important mentors, the pianist’s sound continues to evolve on this, his fourth Blue Note release, the 2-LP The Myth We Choose, a major leap forward, as he blends electronics and o...