Heritage

What could be mistaken for a preconceived all-star project is actually a gathering of friends and family: Heritage boasts half of The Robert Glasper Experiment and the pianist/keyboardist himself (also co-producer here with Loueke), plus bassist Derrick Hodge, guest vocalist Gretchen Parlato, and her frequent collaborator, drummer Mark Guiliana. Loueke and Hodge once played together in trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s band, and Parlato and the Beninese guitarist/vocalist were classmates at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Parlato adds her trademark wordless singing to “Tribal Dance” backed by Loueke’s vocal harmonies and deft fingerwork. Glasper opens the reflectively bittersweet “Chardon” with contemplative solo piano, and “Bayyinah” closes Heritage as an extended spiritual exploration.