In Rotation: Venna

South London saxophonist Venna spent years fortifying the grooves for heavyweights like Beyoncé and Burna Boy before deciding to step out from the liner notes. When a horn player drops a solo project, it usually leans into a rigid jazz clinic. On his debut album, MALIK, the Grammy-winning musician flips the script, treating his instrument exactly like a lead R&B vocalist. He doesn't just solo over a beat. He weaves his saxophone through thick basslines and live drum pockets, answering the guest singers melody for melody. On "Myself," Jorja Smith’s airy vocals anchor the track while Venna’s horn acts as her duet partner, filling the negative space with sharp melodic runs. Then you get a track like "Mr Popular," where he links up with Smino, blending UK alternative hip-hop sensibilities with Midwest bounce. He even taps Leon Thomas for "Twisting," grounding the entire record in heavy soul. Most modern jazz-rap falls into a lazy trap where a producer loops a dusty trumpet sample over a drum break. Venna actually plays the horn, and he produces the tracks himself. He understands the architecture of a groove from the floorboards up. MALIK is the best instrumental-driven R&B album of the year because the saxophone actually bites back. It cuts through the mix with heavy intent, driving the rhythm forward instead of just decorating it. The momentum for this project is moving fast. Stateside independent radio stations from WRUR in Rochester to KUNM in Albuquerque are throwing him in heavy rotation, proving this sound translates far beyond his local scene. He’s taking the live show on the road this summer, hitting European jazz festivals before a massive hometown gig at London's Somerset House on July 23 with Jordss. The man is fully outside, playing the kind of music that makes you want to roll the windows down and drive. Hit play below.