Build an Ark is a Los Angeles-based creative music collective formed in 2001 by producer Carlos Niño as a direct 'peace action' response to the 9/11 attacks. The group is a vital bridge between the 1970s spiritual jazz movement and the modern LA beat scene.
Their sound identity is defined by a 'pan-African' orchestral approach, utilizing a large ensemble that includes legendary figures from Tribe Records and the Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra, such as Phil Ranelin and Nate Morgan. Musically, they operate in the lineage of Pharoah Sanders and Sun Ra, but with a softer, more meditative edge influenced by Niño's background in ambient and hip-hop production. Vocalist Dwight Trible provides a central emotional anchor with his deep, expressive baritone. Critical consensus views Build an Ark as a cornerstone of the 21st-century spiritual jazz revival, praised for its sincerity and intergenerational collaboration. They are essential for collectors of Kindred Spirits or Soul Jazz Records compilations, representing a unique intersection of social activism and avant-garde beauty.
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Shares spiritual jazz, avant-garde jazz, jazz fusion, nu jazz (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, avant-garde jazz, flute, jazz fusion (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, jazz fusion, peaceful, nu jazz (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, open_field, sunrise, jazz fusion (signature)
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Shares spiritual jazz, jazz fusion, cathedral, nu jazz (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, avant-garde jazz, flute, jazz fusion (signature)
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