Keziah Jones

After a ten-year hiatus without a new album, Keziah Jones returns with force through a major release that feels like a manifesto, playfully titled Alive and Kicking. Recorded live at home in Lagos, Nigeria, this new album combines covers, new tracks, and live versions of his greatest hits. The inventor of blufunk envisioned it as a thread running through his career — a kind of “summary of previous episodes.” It’s no surprise, then, to find a cover of The Police, closely linked to his youthful years in London, or a rendition of Rick James’ “Pass the Joint.” Fans will delight in hearing his iconic “Rhythm is Love” in an acoustic version, introduced by a jubilant “Paris, c’est moi!” — and will melt at the soulful charm of his latest love gem, “Melissa,” accompanied by a stripped-back, sun-soaked video.

A first for Keziah: the exploration of soul as a new genre in his repertoire.

This 15-track album was created with longtime members of his band: Josh “McNasty” McKenzie, brother of award-winning artist Labyrinth, who started playing drums with Keziah at the age of 16; the late Joey “Anchor Man” Grant and newcomer Alex ‘Beanz’ Miller, both on bass; and Edem “Amen” Viana on additional guitar. The album features 11 live-in-studio versions of Keziah Jones classics, along with two new tracks (“Melissa” and “Rainy Saturday”) and two covers (“Beds Too Big Without You” by The Police and “Pass the Joint” by Rick James).

Alive & Kicking marks the close of one chapter and the beginning of a new creative era in his more than 30-year career.