Ancestral Sounds Vinyl Listening Session

An immersive listening session celebrating Alkebu-Lan: Land of the Blacks - the deeply spiritual and politically charged recording by Mtume

James Mtume was an influential musician, producer, songwriter, and activist best known for blending funk, R&B, jazz, and socially conscious music. Many people know him for hits like “Juicy” and for the success of the group Mtume, which helped define the sound of 1980s dance and R&B music.

But before the commercial success, Mtume was deeply involved in political and cultural activism, and his earlier work reflected that spirit. One important example is the jazz album he recorded with his ensemble, which reveals a different side of his artistry - spiritual, politically aware, experimental, and rooted in the Black liberation movement. While later audiences associated him with polished grooves and radio hits, this album captures a period when his music served as a voice for resistance, identity, and social consciousness.

Ancestral Sounds would like you to join us at the legendary Sistas’ Placefor a special listening session of Alkebu-Lan: Land of the Blacks(1972) on vinyl.

6pm Doors Open, Friday, June 5th

@Sistas Place

456 Nostrand Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11216

Join us for an immersive listening session celebrating Alkebu-Lan: Land of the Blacks; the deeply spiritual and politically charged recording by Mtume Umoja Ensemble that stands as one of the most powerful expressions of Black consciousness in independent jazz. Released in the early 1970s during a wave of cultural awakening and artistic liberation, this rare body of work blends free jazz, African percussion, spoken word, soul, and collective improvisation into a transcendent sonic journey.

This gathering is more than a playback session, it’s an opportunity to experience the album communally, the way music of this era was often intended to be felt: together. Throughout the evening, we’ll sit with the textures, rhythms, and messages woven into the recording, exploring themes of identity, spirituality, resistance, and diasporic connection. Whether you’re a longtime collector, a spiritual jazz devotee, or discovering the album for the first time, this session invites deep listening, reflection, and conversation around a landmark work that continues to resonate across generations.

Expect warm sound, intentional atmosphere, and a shared appreciation for one of the hidden gems of Black avant-garde music history.