Review: Emile & The Education - Lamad (Distro via Fresh Selects)

There seems to be a fair amount of next generation Roy Hargrove love at the moment and Emile Martinez is one of the LA 'comtemporary jazz' leaders and 'Lamad' is his debut as a bandleader - be prepared to be educated.

Emile is a graduate of Berklee College and has worked with some of the biggest names like Anderson .Paak, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and long-time member of The RH Factor, jazz keyboardist/pianist/musical director, Brian Hargrove.  He also worked on the album 'Katalyst' as part of the Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Katalyst Jazz Is Dead 13 project.

'Lamad' is a continuation of that training of jazzy hip-hop soul as fused inbetween modern electronics at one end and "swirling spirtuality" at the othere with Martinez's "warm trumpet tones" in the middle.

The album's titlee comes from his late-friend Damal's name backwards as a dedication to him so tracks like 'Orison To Damal's Light', 'Lamad's Orison' (which features Carlos Niño) and 'Elegy For Lamad (Tears of Ms. Dobbs)' are obviously thoughtful and sensitive.

Equally, we are told that the album is "for my friends, my family, the students I mentor, and anyone who believes in love, vulnerability, and truth through music.”  And talking of teachers, we learn his first trumpet teacher Clay Jenkins, was the inspiration for the opening track. 'Made Of Clay' (Ed. did you see etc).

And whilst there's some lovely Hargrove trumpet at times, this is no 'tribute' album and whilst there's the mirrors to current new jazzer (Yussef Dayes, Theo Croker et al), particulary on the drums there's some fantastic keys 'n' synths and on longest track (10 mins), 'Willis & Annie' there's a electric guitar solo that hasn't been heard since the likes of McLauglin in Mahavishnu Orchestra (Ed. wonder if it was one of those 70s twin necks?)

Who knows what Miles would be doing in 2025 but I'd like to think the spirit of 'Osad's House' (with a bigger band sound), the 'free'-ish 'Patience & Release' and where the harmonising vocals of Gaby Duran are added (this could be the jazz version of the recently released SHOLTO's cinematic 'The Sirens' - see review HERE), 'Lamad' is not far from Jazz Not Jazz

As most of the tracks are quite long, it's likely that the usual suspects will be supporting this one like late night Jazz on 3 (Ed. used to love 'The Late Junction'), BBC Radio 6's Gilles Peterson, Jazz FM and the more the leftflied elements on WYEP, KEXP, Rinse FM, Totally Wired Radio and other 'ambient atmospheric electronic' jazz: either way, this album is going to make waves, air and otherwise: Damal (RIP).

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: LAMAD | Emile and The Education

Artist: Emile & The Education

Title: Lamad

Release date: 5th December, 2025

Label :  Distro via Fresh Selects

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: Digital / Bandcamp 

Credits All tracks composed and produced by Emile Martinez. All tracks recorded by Tom Khare, apart from Track 10 (Tom Khare & Garfield Adams) All tracks mixed by Garfield Adams. All tracks mastered by Jaclyn Sanchez and Garfield Adams. All Artwork (singles, album) - Camille Stemmons, Brooklyn Stemmons Project Manager(s) - Hossien Kaviani, Delia Tesileanu 

1. Hands Made of Clay Emile Martinez - Trumpet Aaron Shaw - Tenor Sax Brian Hargrove - Keys Siya Makuzeni - Vocals Allakoi Peete - Percussion Brandon Cordoba - Keys Camille Ramirez - Flute David Otis - Alto Sax Jonah Levine - Trombone Jonathan Pinson - Drums Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Viola/Violin Owen Clapp - Bass 

2. A Finch’s Walk (Gaby’s Song) Emile Martinez - Trumpet Gaby Duran - Vocals Neon Phoenix - Bass Roger Bendford aka Joose - Drums Brandon Cordoba - Keys Eddie Cole - Vocals 

3. Orison to Damal’s Delight 
 Emile Martinez - Trumpet Jimetta Rose - Trumpet Jonathan Hoard - Trumpet Carlos Nino - Percussion Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Viola/Violin Brandon Cordoba - Keys Corbin Jones - Bass Gregory Webster - Drums Alakoi Peete - Percussion 

4. The Path Emile Martinez - Trumpet Brandon Cordoba - Keys Jonathan Pinson - Drums Allakoi Peete - Percussion Aaron Shaw - Tenor Sax David Otis - Alto Sax Camille Ramirez - Flute Corbin Jones - Bass Jonah Levine - Trombone Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Viola/Violin 

5. Lamad’s Orison Emile Martinez - Trumpet Brandon Cordoba - Keys Jonathan Pinson - Drums Jonathan Hoard - Vocals
Alakoi Pete aka Mic Holden Percussion, Aaron Shaw - Tenor Sax Camille Ramirez - Flute Corbin Jones - Bass David Otis - Alto Sax Gregory Webster - Drums Jamal Moore - Bass Clarinet Jonah Levine - Trombone, Carlos Ninos - Percussion 

6. Elegy for Lamad (Tears of Ms. Dobbs) Nanna B - Vocals Gaby Duran - Vocals Roger Bendford aka Joose - Drums Brandon Cordoba - Keys Neon Phoenix - Bass 

7. Willis and Annie Emile Martinez - Trumpet Brandon Cordoba - Keys Aaron Shaw - Tenor Sax Jonathan Pinson - Drums Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Viola/Violin Allakoi Peete - Percussion Camille Ramirez - Flute Corbin Jones - Bass David Otis - Alto Sax Jonah Levine - Trombone 

8. OTWT (The Path) Brandon Cordoba - Keys Alakoi Pete aka Mic Holden Jonathan Pinson – Drums Corbin Jones - Bass 

9. Osad’s House Emile Martinez - Trumpet Sam Reid - Keys Allakoi Peete - Percussion Brandon Cordoba - Keys Corbin Jones - Bass Eddie Cole - Vocals Gregory Webster - Drums Jonah Levine - Trombone Jimetta Rose - Vocals 

10. Patience and Release Emile Martinez - Trumpet Sam Reid - Keys Aaron Shaw - Tenor Sax Jody Giachello - Drums Gaby Duran - Vocals Heather Gray - Modular Synthesizer Programming Neon Phoenix - Bass