We Went There: Shabaka at the Walker Art Center
Shabaka Hutchings, going by just Shabaka for his performance at the Walker Art Center on Thursday, strolled up to the microphone to kick off his set and told the crowd the “enjoy the vibrations.” Things have been a little hectic in life, so it felt a bit jarring, but man did he deliver some good vibrations over his enchanting, spiritual 90 minute set.
Joined by Diego Gaeta on keys (grand piano and synths) and Greg Paul on drums, Shabaka had a table of flutes he rotated through during his three 25-30 minute songs/sets. During the breaks he gave some historical context on his different flutes, including how he put down his sax and dove into learning the instrument during COVID, but he also gave impassioned pleas for art and creativity as he spoke about the wonder of some of these instruments surviving through generations. He even had one flute the looked like a little turtle he played for a minute.
The music wandered a bit, from dreamy soundscapes to promo-funky breakdowns that saw the flute often as the driving force of the groove. The first set saw some sonic exploration, with frantic free jazz drumming pushing forward the music while Shabaka and Gaeta stretched out on their instruments. The second set was anchored not by drums, but Paul playing a small vibraphone and Gaeta producing spacey glissandos on the keys.
Before the third and final set, Shabaka tried to explain the flute he would be playing, which created natural overtones (I think…) and seemed to bring joy to him in his learning about this South American flute. Even when he got deeply technical in music terminology, he kept coming back to the human spirit and how our capacity to create art is endless. His smile and the bottomless joy that radiated from him helped wrap around the absolutely magnificent set of music the trio was creating. It was one of those concerts that showcased a group of talented musicians, but also showed that the spirit of making music is something that no school or chart could totally capture.
As they ended their set, before he did a quick solo flute right in front of the crowd, Shabaka made the note that “in some ways the music goes on forever, but in other very real ways, it has to end.” It drew laughs and cheers from the crowd, but it also spoke to the transcendent nature of the music he was trying (and I’d succeeding) to make. I’ve been a huge fan of his music from Sons of Kemet, Shabaka and the Anscetors, The Comet is Coming and his solo music, and Thursday night showcased that even with a new instrument, with a new band, the joy and talent of his music can spread no matter what the vehicle.
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