Tha God Fahim
Wide Berth

Good Evening Black Buddha” is Black Jesus eXperience’s seventh studio album. Inspired by the land we live on and the connection to all that have gone before and will follow, inspired by the multicultural power of our community, inspired by the paradox of the story of the Black Buddha. From the perversity of the pandemic and its imposition of separation comes "Good Evening Black Buddha", celebrating togetherness. Darkness is light. At the heart of Black Jesus eXperience’s inspiration is Ethiopian/Australian singer Enushu Taye. Enushu’s openness and poetic insight, delivered with unique beauty in her own Amharic tongue, lie at the core of "Good Evening Black Buddha" and all that Black Jesus eXperience (BJX) do. MC Mista Monk (Liam Monkhouse) compliments and contrasts with rhymes and flow born of Africa and outback Australia. BJX are joined by their great friends powerhouse singer Vida-Sunshyne, and crystalline new voice Gracie Sinclair. The songs on “Good Evening Black Buddha” rove from the lightness of touch of a trio to BJX’s full fourteen piece polyrhythmic, polymetric, polytonal Ethiofunk juggernaut with six-piece horn arrangements. Soloists include living national treasure Bob Sedergreen on keyboards, Peter Harper on saxophone, Ian Dixon on trumpet, Zac Lister guitar, Larry Crestani guitar and his own invention ‘kraartar’, over the deep grooves of Richard Rose bass, James Davies kit, and Kahan Harper percussion.

Vol. 1: The original Rugged Tranquility handed us the comb with which to style afro-textured sensibility. “Slapboxin’ Wit Ya Momma” has all the bounce of a club-focused beat, with a face-twisting phased guitar / keyline combo that swirls and churns psychedelically atop a crate digger's buffet of two-step drumming. “Send It On Down” is a beat lover’s bread and butter - richly hued vocals dance atop a solid foot with melodic chops that revolve like a satellite around an addicting rhythm. “Lemme Holla Holla” beckons and calls atop a warped guitar, a delayed tambourine sprinkled atop this dreamy admixture.

There's always time to grow, but this fresh take on jazzy hip-hop soul feels fully ripe and mature to us! Luman Child handles programming, bass, clavinet, Moog, piano and more, brings in a diverse roster of soulful singers, rhymers and instrumental guests, and to all of their credit, it feels lot more like the work of a longtime collective than a studio project.