The latest release from Soulpersona finds the producer continuing his affiliation with trumpeter Bryan Corbett in their latest offering, 'Aurora'.
Building beautifully from the duo's previous full-length collaboration in last year's 'Magnetica', the pairing breeds similarly inspired results evident through 'Aurora's nuanced and expansive sonic soundscapes.
Always one to wear his influences on his sleeve, Morgan "Soulpersona" Howell has often presented his musical vision as lovingly fusing everything from an affection for 90s acid jazz to the imaginative jazz-funk of Herbie Hancock's 'Head Hunters'.
Long cited for his penchant for collaboration, the Soulpersona brand has continued to strengthen from celebrated unions including that of vocalist Princess Freesia which spawned an extensive list of nu-disco-inspired projects including 'The Game', 'Lucky 7' and 'Extended Pleasure' amongst others. And, of course, there's Howell's numerous efforts alongside keyboardist Carl Hudson which culminated in their acclaimed album release, 'Magic Bullet' in 2024.
This naturally brings us on to Bryan Corbett...
On par to racking up a lengthy list of collaborations with Howell, Corbett's trumpet has also graced the aforementioned 'Magic Bullet' project adding infinitely more star power to that project. But adding star power is sorta Corbett's thing having further contributed to a litany of projects including US3, The Brand New Heavies, Chris Bowden and Jamie Finlay.
While 'Magnetica' was celebrated for the progressive instrumental soul that it exuded and the interplay between Howell and Corbett, 'Aurora' cultivates an even grander framework and more expansive playground for their new narrative.
Across the album's eleven tracks, the signature Soulpersona sound typically relishes in the delicious cocktail of styles from rare groove to jazz-funk with Corbett's trumpet adding sublime and warm textures to the album's overall sound.
Ultimately, 'Aurora' feels less like a sequel to 'Magnetica' and more like the next chapter in an increasingly compelling musical conversation. Soulpersona's richly layered production and instinct for groove and stylistic fusion provides the canvas, while Corbett's trumpet provides an expressive counterpoint that gives these compositions their warmth and personality. It's a record steeped in the sounds that have long informed Howell's work, yet one that never feels content simply to look backwards.
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