The Pollyseeds

TEXT JACK DIAMOND

You deserve a lifestyle. You deserve the finer things.

TERRACE MARTIN

Terrace Martin is a throwback. A musician, producer, and composer – he infuses everything he touches with his jazz-influenced take on the smooth soul and hip-hop genres. His numerous production credits (including Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Herbie Hancock) have put him in the spotlight, but it’s his solo work, including this collection, that really shows off his many talents and deserves equal attention.

The Pollyseeds are the essence of California soul. This is the real deal! Their name represents peace, love, and unity and, according to Terrace, the actual polly seeds that were the delicacy of choice when he was growing up in the Crenshaw district of South LA.

To appreciate the full scope of this album’s intentions, you should really check out Terrace’s last two solo releases, “3CHORDFOLD” (2013) and “Velvet Portraits” (2016), where his music lays the foundation for The Pollyseeds. On this release, Terrace is simply one of guys in the band as sax player and producer. Pollyseeds members Brandon Owens, Trevor Lawrence Jr., and fellow jazzer Robert Glasper are all contemporaries of Terrace, and together as a band they create a soulful sound full of positivity that incorporates the old with the new.

Featured artists Rose Gold, Chachi (aka Problem), Wyann Vaughn (daughter of Wayne Vaughn of EWF fame and of Emotions vocalist Wanda Vaughn), Preston Harris, and Kamasi Washington are the real focal point of this collaboration. So much so that only the cover of Janet’s classic Jam/Lewis cut “Funny How Time Flies” is a Terrace-featured track.

Highlights on Sounds Of Crenshaw Vol. 1 include the infectious pop of “Intentions” featuring Chachi, which opens with percussion straight outta the early Prince catalogue and, in a different place and time, would have been on the airwaves right after Stevie’s “All I Do.” That track was THE JAM of 1980 ya’ll! The song wouldn’t be out of place on Snoop Dogg’s 2016 album “Bush” either. Group unison vocals couple beautifully with an unmistakable chic-like groove. The outro of “I Like You, I Like You, I Really Really Like You” is everything, especially when coupled with Terrace’s sweet, melty sax fills.

But the album’s true centerpiece is “You And Me” featuring the ever beautiful vocals of Rose Gold. There’s an immediate connection for me with Janet Jackson, Syreeta Wright, and Niecy Williams. An emotional connection that is evident throughout the track. Understated yet captivating. You can’t help but smile listening to this one.

After a few Back to Mine-style late night instrumentals is the stirring “Your Space” featuring Wyann Vaughn. Her voice awash in reverb, it’s easy to get lost in this hypnotic ballad.

Finally, album closer “Don’t Trip” has another wonderful featured vocal from Preston Harris. The track reminded me a bit in style of something from another great (and unfortunately overlooked) artist Lewis Taylor. The vibe of this track with its 70s Rhodes and jazzy bass fills is the perfect way to end the album.

My goodness, it’s so refreshing to have so much positivity in modern music. Jazz and soul; peace and love all come together in this all-encompassing musical hybrid.

In times like these, the world needs The Pollyseeds!