JPEG RAW [Standard Black Vinyl]

by Gary Clark, Jr.

Overview

The more albums Gary Clark, Jr. makes, the harder it is to classify him, and that's one of the best things about his body of work. While Clark still gets filed under "blues" by most folks, anyone who heard 2012's Blak and Blu and 2019's This Land knows his music encompasses an impressive range of sounds and styles, and for a guy who was supposed to be a guitar hero, his six-string work is only one of the many ingredients he layers into his dense, innovative arrangements. This Land was a brilliant work of musical wanderlust and articulate rage as he explored the abuses of the Trump era through the lens of Black American music, and if 2024's JPEG RAW isn't quite as sharp thematically (though it's close), musically it's another triumph that makes room for blues, hard rock, funk, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop flavors that can by turns fill up the dancefloor, set the mood for quiet storm, inspire listeners to man the barricades, and kick out the jams. George Clinton guests on the track "Funk Witch U," a more than fitting meeting of minds given how Clark's take on Black rock recalls the glory days of Funkadelic, and Stevie Wonder lends vocals to "What About the Children," which wouldn't be at all out of place on one of Wonder's '70s masterpieces as well as reminding us "Living in the City" is still far more relevant than it should be in 2024. Keyon Harrold spins some sweet, muted trumpet lines over "Alone Together," a romantic number with a tough undertow, and Clark trades verses with Valerie June on "Don't Start," a raw slice of rockin' blues that matches the wiry energy of R.L. Burnside's electric juke joint sessions. Gary Clark, Jr.'s catalog shows he has the talent, intelligence, and vision to make a grand-scale musical statement out of any style he chooses, and JPEG RAW only reinforces that notion; he's been creating some of the boldest and most interesting guitar-based music of his time, and this is as exciting and rewarding as anyone could hope. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	03/22/2024
Label:	Warner Records / Wea
UPC:	0093624873105

Tracks

1. Maktub
2. JPEG RAW
3. Don't Start
4. This Is Who We Are
5. To The End Of The Earth
6. Alone Together
7. What About The Children
8. Hearts In Retrograde
9. Hyperwave
10. Funk Witch U
11. Triumph
12. Habits

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gary Clark, Jr.   Primary Artist,Synthesizer Strings,Vocals (Background),Drums,Organ,Snaps,Guitar,Vocals,Mellotron,Percussion,Fuzz Guitar,Synthesizer,Finger Snaps,Handclapping,Wah Wah Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Hi String Guitar,Moog Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Synthesizer Bass,Wind Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Synthesizer Flute
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist,Harp,Vocals,Clavinet,Featured Artist
Alex Peterson   Double Bass,Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Mike Elizondo   Bass,Juno,Synthesizer,Bass (Electric)
George Clinton   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Elijah Ford   Mini Moog,Moog Bass,Ondes Martenot,Bass (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Lamar Mitchell   Keyboards
Daniel Herbst   Vocals
JJ Johnson   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Valerie June   Vocals,Featured Artist
Zion Rain Clark   Vocals (Background)
Jon Deas   Flute,Piano,Guitar,Strings,Vocoder,Key Bass,Keyboards,Mellotron,Vox Organ,Wurlitzer,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Keyboard Bass,Vox Continental,Synthesizer Bass,Synthesizer Oboe,Wind Synthesizer,Oberheim Synthesizer
Naala   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Guillermo Zapata   Guitar (Rhythm)
Shawn Aleesha   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Shanan Ashlee   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Savannah Allee   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Ella Clark   Vocals (Background)
Gia Clark   Vocals (Background)
Zander Holloway   Vocals (Background)
Zion Clark   Vocals (Background)
Keyon Harrold   Trumpet,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Lenny Waronker   A&R
Scooter Weintraub   Executive Producer
Mike Elizondo   Producer
Elijah Ford   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Gary Clark, Jr.   Executive Producer,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Photography,Programming,Drum Programming,Creative Director
Jacob Sciba   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Cristian Perez   Vocal Engineer
Frank Maddocks   Design,Creative Director
Mike Bozzi   Mastering
Cheryl Jenets   Project Coordinator
Pam Adams   Project Coordinator
JJ Johnson   Composer
Justin Francis   Engineer
Xavier Stephenson   Vocal Engineer
Kevin McKeown   Composer
Phranchyze   Composer
Gaston Jouany   Photography
Sama'an Ashrawi   Composer
Jon Deas   Composer,Programming
Naala   Composer
Guillermo Zapata   Composer
Kelsey Porter   Assistant Engineer
Noah Nunez   Assistant Engineer
Lamar Mitchell   Technician