Velvet Portraits

Released in 2016, Velvet Portraits serves as a definitive statement for Terrace Martin as a solo artist following his pivotal role as a producer on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. The album is a sprawling exploration of the 'West Coast Get Down' aesthetic, featuring contributions from key collaborators like Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and Thundercat. Sonically, it is a bridge between the G-funk era of the 1990s and the spiritual jazz revival of the 2010s. The record is notable for its use of the talkbox and the Fender Rhodes, creating a signature 'velvet' texture that justifies its title. It received widespread critical acclaim for its ability to synthesize disparate genres into a cohesive, soulful narrative of Black American music. Tracks like 'Curly Martin' pay homage to his father and his jazz roots, while 'Valdez Off Crenshaw' reinterprets soul classics through a modern LA lens. It stands as a cornerstone of the modern nu jazz movement.