Curly

Released in 2023, 'Curly' serves as Terrace Martin's most personal and jazz-purist statement to date. Dedicated to his father, Curly Martin, the album eschews the boom-bap drums and synth-heavy production that defined Martin's work on 'To Pimp a Butterfly' or 'Velvet Portraits'. Instead, it leans heavily into spiritual jazz and post-bop traditions. The tracklist includes reworkings of familiar themes - such as 'How Much a Dollar Cost' - reimagined here as expansive instrumental explorations. The recording quality emphasizes a live-in-the-room feel, highlighting the chemistry of a tight-knit ensemble. Critics noted the album's bravery in its length and pacing, with several tracks crossing the ten-minute mark, signaling a shift toward the 'long-form' jazz philosophy of artists like Pharoah Sanders or John Coltrane. It stands as a pivotal moment in Martin's discography, proving his mastery of acoustic tradition as much as contemporary fusion.