Album of the Month: Venna – Malik

When a 26-year-old Grammy winner steps out from behind the scenes to claim centre stage, you pay attention. Malik Venner, the south London saxophonist known professionally as Venna, has spent years lending his horn to some of the biggest names in contemporary music. His contributions helped Burna Boy win a Grammy for Twice as Tall. He's added texture to records by Beyoncé, Wizkid, Kali Uchis, and Knucks. But with Malik, released on Cashmere Thoughts (the label co-founded by Yussef Dayes), Venner finally puts his own name on the marquee, and the results are revelatory.

From Sideman to Bandleader

This isn't simply a saxophonist making a jazz record. Venna refuses those easy categorisations. Across these 13 tracks, he moves fluidly between jazz, R&B, bossa nova, soul, and hip-hop, absorbing sounds from years spent touring globally and bringing them back to his London consciousness. The album's title is literally his birth name, chosen by his mother 26 years before this music existed. It's both a declaration of identity and an invitation to experience the world as Venna hears it.

What sets this album apart is Venna's willingness to be vulnerable. His vocals appear on seven tracks, not as a gimmick but as an integral part of the storytelling. On "My Way", his tentative falsetto hovers over gently strummed guitar that recalls the spectral folk jazz of Nick Drake or the woozy minimalism of King Krule. When he sings about being miles away but wanting to stay, it feels like an anxious invitation rather than a confident declaration. The cracks in his voice aren't flaws but windows into genuine emotion.

A Masterclass in Collaboration

The personnel list reads like a who's who of contemporary British jazz and beyond. Yussef Dayes' drumming appears across much of the record, providing the propulsive energy that grounds Venna's exploratory impulses. Marco Bernardis is equally crucial, contributing piano, Rhodes, guitar, tenor saxophone, and synthesiser, his versatility allowing the album to shift textures seamlessly. Guest vocalists include Jorja Smith on "Myself", Leon Thomas on "Twisting", Smino on "Mr Popular", and CARI on "Veranda", each adding their own character without overshadowing Venna's vision.

But Venna doesn't treat these collaborators as mere guests. This is a bandleader who listens, who creates space for others to shine whilst maintaining a cohesive artistic statement. It's the product of someone who has spent years being the youngest person in every room, learning to navigate collaborative dynamics with humility and confidence in equal measure.

The Sonic Journey

The album opens with the energetic "Numero Uno" and moves through a landscape of shifting moods and textures. "Prophet" showcases the interplay between Venna's expressive alto saxophone and his collaborators' contributions, building into an almost five-minute sonic journey. "Day x2" featuring MIKE drifts by like a hazy lo-fi meditation, whilst "Twisting" with Leon Thomas brings smoky late-night R&B syncopations, Venna's saxophone emerging between vocal lines to accentuate longing rather than dominate it.

The bossa nova inflected "São Paulo' Interlude" reveals the influence of Venna's global travels, whilst tracks like "Alchemy" and "Indigo" demonstrate his compositional range and ability to craft melodies that linger. The album closes with "Eternal Reflections", bringing everything full circle.

Why Malik Matters

In an era where jazz is experiencing a renaissance, particularly in London, Venna represents something vital: an artist unafraid to let influences collide, who understands that tradition and innovation aren't opposites. His saxophone work transforms the instrument from its traditional supporting role into something more dynamic. Whether laying down deep, resonant foundation lines or essaying soaring solos augmented with electronic effects, Venna proves the saxophone can be as flexible and expressive as any voice.

This isn't an artist trying to fit into existing categories. Venna has spoken about allowing himself to be a vessel for music, approaching creativity with an openness that yields genuine surprises. The result is an album that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, a coming-of-age statement from an artist who has already achieved considerable success but is only now stepping fully into his own light.

The Vinyl Experience

This Cashmere Thoughts pressing is a beauty. The 13-track selection distils the essence of Venna's vision into a perfectly paced vinyl experience. The mastering captures both the intimacy of the performances and the richness of the production, allowing each element to breathe whilst maintaining the album's cohesive flow. It's an album that rewards repeated listening, revealing new details with each spin.

If you've been following the explosive contemporary jazz scene (think Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective), Venna has been working alongside and contributing to that movement for years. Malik is his definitive statement, proof that he's not just part of the conversation but leading it in his own direction. For listeners interested in where jazz-influenced music is heading, unbound by genre limitations and enriched by global sounds, this is essential.

Available now at Lush Life Records on vinyl LP.

 

Key Details:

• Artist: Venna (Malik Venner)
• Album: Malik
• Label: Cashmere Thoughts
• Catalogue: CASTHO010LP
• Format: Vinyl LP
• Released: 2025
• Tracks: 13

Featured Artists: Jorja Smith, Leon Thomas, MIKE, Smino, CARI, Yussef Dayes and Marco Bernardis.

Listen if you like: Yussef Dayes, Moses Boyd, Kamasi Washington, Nubya Garcia, Tom Misch, contemporary UK jazz, genre-blending production, saxophone-led explorations