Shabaka Hutchings (born 1984 in London, raised in Barbados) is a British-Barbadian jazz musician, composer and bandleader who became a central figure in the UK's 21st-century jazz revival through his groups Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming and Shabaka and the Ancestors. In 2023 he stepped away from the saxophone to focus on flute and shakuhachi, releasing the acclaimed solo album Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace on Impulse! in 2024. His 2026 album Of The Earth - written, produced and mixed entirely by himself - marks his return to the saxophone and his debut as a rapper, released on his own Shabaka Records label.
Shabaka released Of The Earth on 6 March 2026 via his own Shabaka Records label - a fully self-written, self-produced and self-mixed album that also marks his debut as a rapper.
Of The Earth was named Album of the Day by Bandcamp Daily on 5 March 2026, with reviewers noting its blend of saxophone, flute, drum machines and synthesizers.
Shabaka ended his self-imposed saxophone hiatus in mid-2025 by performing at the memorial concert for South African jazz legend Louis Moholo-Moholo.
Shabaka's debut solo album Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace was released in April 2024 on Impulse!, featuring flute compositions with collaborators including pianist Jason Moran and harpist Brandee Younger.
Shabaka released the EP Possession in December 2024 on Impulse! Records, featuring flute-led tracks including a collaboration with André 3000.
