Fertile Ground creates a sound that feels like a bridge between the spiritual jazz of the 1970s and the sophisticated neo-soul of the early 2000s. It is music that prioritizes the 'groove' as a sacred space, utilizing organic instrumentation like hand percussion, upright bass, and warm Rhodes keys to create a foundation that is both danceable and deeply meditative.
What sets them apart is the sheer vocal power of Navasha Daya, whose range allows her to pivot from intimate jazz phrasing to powerful, operatic soul proclamations. The production avoids the sterile trap of many acid jazz contemporaries, opting instead for a raw, live-band energy that feels like it was captured in a single, inspired take in a sun-drenched studio.
Start with the album 'Black Is...' to hear the band at their most conceptually ambitious and sonically refined. It serves as a perfect entry point for anyone who loves the political urgency of Gil Scott-Heron but craves the lush, melodic sensibilities of Erykah Badu or Jill Scott.
Fertile Ground is an American soul jazz band led by James H. Collins Jr. The group was founded in Baltimore.
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