In the early ’90s, during the acid jazz and rare groove boom, when various British bands were signing to major labels and achieving mainstream chart success, Whitefield was a founding member of Poets of Rhythm, self-releasing their own uncompromising, hard-edged interpretations of ’70s street funk on the then completely outdated 7″ single format, predating the deep funk scene by nearly a decade. Thirty years on, and though many retro-minded bands have followed in their footsteps, few bands still match the energy and spirit of the early Poets 45s.
Since then, Whitefield has explored all sorts of new forms and innovative side projects, releasing further explorations of funk with his own band under the alias Carl Hector, and releasing on labels such as Stones Throw, Daptone, Ninja Tune, Mowax and Strut. An avid music lover, explorer and record collector extraordinaire, Whitefield’s music naturally absorbs his expanding interests, being particularly influenced by Ethiopian jazz, West African funk and highlife, and, through his Rodinia alter-ego, krautrock and ambient.
More recently, Whitefield has begun to venture into the astral realms now commonly referred to as “spiritual jazz,” and this is exactly what he expresses on “The Infinity Of Nothingness.” A set of mature, delicate, and meditative orchestrations, the album, like much of Whitefield’s best work, stays true to its primary influences, in this case the twin representatives of Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders, but completely avoids falling into the trap of mere tribute or imitation. Displaying subtle yet diverse accents of hip hop, library, and avant-garde without being overly conspicuous, the album is unified by a pronounced trance-like feel, beginning with the sparse, marching opener “Nothingness” and continuing through the three-part “Infinity Suite” of “Time,” “Space,” and “Energy.”
With The Infinity Of Nothingness, Whitefield has achieved the rare feat of creating music that is not only worthy of standing alongside his greatest influences, as he did with his student band Poets Of Rhythm, but also stands the test of time.
Choose 180g LP with tip-on sleeve + download card, or CD.
