An Album a Day #2026-07

Notes

I was drawn to this album by its classification as "spiritual jazz." I try to listen to each record in this series with an empty mind, but it was difficult not to expect something like John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, which might be the most spiritual jazz I'm aware of. I admit that I struggled some with that classification while listening to this record.

What Mahku and A Love Supreme have in common is a dramatic sense of meditation and freedom. Much of the music sounds improvised, which is perhaps the impetus for the jazz category. Mahku's meditative qualities are natural, given Manizeh's history as a yoga instructor and chant leader. In fact, her studio is called Love Supreme Projects.

I may disagree that Mahku is jazz, but I did still enjoy listening to it. There is a musical depth here that eludes most new age-y music. I particularly enjoyed the album's opening track "Ashem Vohu," which is a rendition of a Zoroastrian prayer dating to the Old Avestan period (1500 – 900 BCE). The music has a waking quality to it. I intend to listen to it some mornings when I wake up early and am mentally preparing for the day.

Listen

What is "An Album a Day"?

Each day in 2026, I'm listening to an album that:

1. I've never heard before
2. Was released in the last six months (from the time of listening).