3ChordFold Pulse

Released in 2014, 3ChordFold Pulse serves as a companion and expansion to Terrace Martin's 2013 breakthrough 3ChordFold. While the predecessor focused heavily on guest-heavy studio collaborations, Pulse leans further into the live, improvisational identity of Martin's ensemble. The album is a critical document of the 'West Get Down' era of Los Angeles jazz, featuring live recordings from New York that showcase the telepathic chemistry of his band. It bridges the gap between his work as a producer for Kendrick Lamar and his identity as a jazz purist. The centerpiece is the 36-minute live version of 'Butterfly,' a track that would later inform the sound of 'To Pimp a Butterfly.' The record was praised for its ability to make complex jazz structures accessible through the lens of contemporary R&B and boom-bap rhythms, solidifying Martin's role as a primary architect of the modern jazz-hip-hop fusion.