A guiding force behind the venerated Black Jazz catalog, bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin has left an indelible mark as a sideman and leader, having appeared on many of the label’s most recognizable releases, as well as having recorded with Hugh Masekela, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Hubbard, Hampton Hawes, and many other luminaries. His swooping, languid style gave the bass a new emotive range, and has become a point of reference for the several generations that have followed. Now, Franklin joins Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad for the latest Jazz Is Dead release, a masterful showcase of Franklin’s range and lasting impact, and a continuation of the maestro’s impeccable legacy for Henry Franklin JID014.

“I feel like we’re all cut from the same cloth because he represents a kind of west coast jazz…underground jazz movement,” says Younge. “And personally, Henry Franklin really inspired me to pick up the upright bass and so it felt like we were allowed to continue a conversation that he started as the Skipper and create this new kind of hip-hop/soul/funk music that hopefully makes people happy. We’ve studied him so much that it was exciting to continue adding to his legacy with something new and fresh. He was eager to do it and had such a visceral reaction and delight after he sat and listened to the album.”

“Sitting in a room with Henry, his music is just larger than life and he has so much grace. He has an effortless approach with playing that bass, it’s phenomenal. To actually be in the room with him and watch his hands and attitude in general where he has such a command and mastery of the art and yet is so completely humble is incredible,” reflects Muhammad. “When I offered to help him put his bass in the car, he said ‘No, this is my girl, I got it,’ and I just looked at him and had to respect that because I’m the same way. When it comes to picking up a crate of records, I don’t mind people helping me but there’s just something about physically doing it that just makes it feel like you’re dedicated and devoted. When he said that, it really stuck with me. That might not mean a lot to a lot of people, but it meant a lot to me.”

JID014 is a triumph of an album that celebrates everything the label champions: community, culture, and the power of the past to build a better future. Immersed in the trapezing bass and clicking rim shots, Franklin along with Adrian Younge, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad welcome listeners to the crossroads of past and present with a stunning tribute to some of the most enduring and influential musical traditions from around the world to remind listeners of their transformative power.