Decorated keyboardist/vocalist Nigel Hall has released his highly anticipated new album, Spiritual, via Regime Music Group.
The 14-track album—Hall’s first since his acclaimed 2015 debut, Ladies & Gentlemen… Nigel Hall—features contributions from a stable of esteemed artists like Patrice Rushen, Marcus King, Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce), and Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band) in addition to members of Butcher Brown.
Spiritual opens with a disclaimer of sorts. As he introduces himself to the “audience” a la Biggie on “Sky’s The Limit” on the album’s “Jazzy (Intro)”, the affable Hall warns, “A lot of the material that you’re going to hear is, uh, parental… what do that call it? Parental advisory… some sh*t like that, I don’t know.” A laugh track responds in kind to the joke.
For Nigel Hall, however, the heavier themes explored on Spiritual are no laughing matter. “This record is a reflection of my final days as an alcoholic and drug addict,” Hall explains. “It is the most honest collection of music I have ever created, and being able to celebrate that as a sober human being is a tremendous honor. I had a lot to get off my chest and with this record I feel like I’ve been able to release those feelings and demons that were weighing so heavily on me.”
“Now that Spritual is out in the world,” Nigel surmises, “I have a great sense of closure and peace around that chapter of my life. Aside from my children, this record is my proudest accomplishment to date. So as you listen, understand that this record was made with the intention to let go of certain things, so that I could grow. This record is for me.”
Throughout his career, Nigel Hall has established a foundation in funk, both onstage and in the studio, proving himself to be a true student of the music. His sound is built upon pages torn out of the R&B, funk, and soul history books, and that versatile, studious nature has made him the musician he is today: an accomplished vocalist, keyboardist, studio musician, and member of the Grammy-nominated funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop-psychedelic-jam-experimental outfit, Lettuce.
On Spiritual, Hall continues to carve out his own creative space in parallel with Lettuce—and in contrast to preconceived notions about his own sound. Recorded with a back-to-basics approach in Richmond, VA at the world-famous Jellowstone Studios, Hall used Spiritual to put an emphasis on expanding the funk-and soul-oriented nature of his existing catalog and highlighting deeper facets of his musical identity.
“My last record was more of a traditional soul record,” Hall explains in a press statement. “I feel like it was a lot of what other people wanted me to sound like. With this album, I didn’t want this to sound like another release. I want people to know that I am my own entity and that I want to explore different areas of music.”
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Stream the album via Spotify and check out the full track listing below. To pre-order your vinyl copy of Spiritual, shop exclusive merch offerings, or stream the album on the platform of your choice, head here.
Keep an eye out for Live For Live Music‘s full interview with Nigel Hall on all things Spiritual coming next week.
Nigel Hall – Spiritual – Full Album
Nigel Hall – Spiritual – Track Listing
1. Jazzy Intro
2. Wake Me
3. Gotta Go To Work
4. Baby I Do Love You feat. Patrice Rushen
5. Change Directions feat. Marcus King
6. The Spiritual Interlude feat. Ryan Zoidis
7. People In Search Of A Life
8. Brother’s Love feat. Jeff Coffin
9. The Sun
10. Caribou
11. Yesterday
12. When I Die
13. Thank Y’all
14. From George, with Love: A Message from George Duke