Sultan Stevenson: El Roi

Following on from his modern but classic-sounding debut, Faithful One (Whirlwind Recordings, 2023), Sultan Stevenson, a London-born pianist of West Indian descent, brings us his second album, El Roi. The title comes from a term in the Hebrew Bible for God of Sight, with faith and identity serving as the driving concepts behind Stevenson's compositions.

This album employs the same group format as its predecessor with a core piano trio with bassist Jacob Gryn and drummer Joel Waters, this being expanded to a quintet on three tracks with trumpeter Josh Short and tenor saxophonist Soweto Kinch. (Kinch takes over from Denys Baptiste, who performed on the first album.)

While the format remains the same, the growing maturity and refinement in Stevenson's compositions and performance are marked. His playing is distinctive and is complemented by the sound quality, which lets every instrument sing out with a classic mellowness.

Stevenson's compositional approach is inclusive, with a strong storytelling vein. This is most clearly demonstrated in the central five-piece suite entitled "Those Who Believe," which forms the core of the album. As Stevenson explains, "The idea is to take the listener on a journey from a place where there is no hope/belief and transform them to a place of total faith." The journey is charted by the trio through recurring themes from the gentle solo piano of "Arise," the drive and superb interplay of "My Unbelief" and the lyrical melody of "Purpose." "Wisdom" brings a burst of explosive drumming and swinging energy before the suite closes with the serene, reflective piano of "I Believe."

Bookending the suite are three quintet tracks. The first, "Unspeakable Happiness" (a phrase describing freedom from the film 12 Years a Slave), is dynamic. with wonderful horn textures. This is followed by "A Region In My Mind." This is the album's standout track, with dazzling solos and a wonderful ebb-and-flow in intensity. The album ends with the triumphant and spirited vibe of the title track.

Clocking in at just 29 minutes, there is certainly a conciseness to the compositions. Nonetheless, the album brings emotional depth, whether in trio or quintet form, with Stevenson offering a beguiling mix of youthful vitality and the skill needed to step back and use space, contrast and melody to drive the arc of his message. Widely regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation, this album not only reinforces that reputation but also lays a strong foundation for his unfolding creative evolution.

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