Vibrations from 1976 is not an album on which funk, soul, and jazz simply coexist. Roy Ayers Ubiquity brings them together. Funk provides the driving pulse, soul the warmth, and the vibraphone – along with the jazzy arrangement – the necessary openness; every strike of the mallet is a journey of discovery in its own right. It is from the organic interplay of these genres that the album derives its dynamism. At the same time, universal messages of love, hope, community, and spirituality become palpable. The trick: the band allows both instruments and vocals equal space to unfold. They manage this even in faster, danceable tracks.
All the songs on Vibrations remain relevant, however – because the themes they explore are ever-present. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Ubiquity chose this name: translated, it means ‘ubiquity’. Particularly in disruptive times and during personal crises, the band offers a refuge where one can find solace. Timeless music emerges from the groove, instrumentation, space, and restraint: just like Ayers’ classic »Everybody Loves The Sunshine«, also from 1976. The title, featuring a vibraphone, is emblazoned on a brown T-shirt that I still wear to this day.
Vibrations
