Phonte & 9th Wonder Reunite On A Robert Glasper Tribute To Miles Davis (Audio)

Robert Glasper’s interpretive Miles Davis tribute Everything’s Beautiful is just under two months away. The May 27 album already unveiled its first single, the Bilal-featuring “Ghetto Walkin’.” Now, “Violets” applies elements of Miles’ 1959 Kind Of Blue (“Blue In Green”) and delightfully bends it to fit Phonte’s narrative in “Violets.”

With 9th Wonder joining Glasper in the instrumentation and production, this Soul-Jazz cut steps beyond ‘Te’s solo work, Foreign Exchange, or even Little Brother for a vividly colorful concept. The song has wisdom throughout Phonte’s syncopated flow. The verse repeats, which is rare in the 2010s, but so necessary given the metaphor and imagery. Not only does this song pay honorable tribute to Miles’ vision, it is a wonderful addition to the sprawling discography of three living musicians.

Related: Phonte’s New Solo Album Is Just The Next Step In His Already Incredible Career.