Now More Than Ever

Brian Jackson’s Now More Than Ever is a 19-track collaborative album released May 29, 2026, through BBE Music, revisiting the musical legacy he helped build with Gil Scott-Heron. Produced by Masters at Work—Louie Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez—the collection brings jazz, soul, spoken word, and dance-floor production together through new interpretations and extended arrangements. Its guiding principle is continuity, connecting the original songs’ social concerns and emotional depth with a new cast of performers. Raheem DeVaughn and J. Ivy join the expansive “It’s Your World,” Moodymann appears on “We Almost Lost Detroit,” and Omar takes the vocal lead on “The Bottle,” placing familiar material in fresh collaborative settings rather than presenting a conventional retrospective.

The guests give individual songs distinct perspectives: Black Thought delivers “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Lisa Fischer interprets “Home Is Where the Hatred Is,” and Rahsaan Patterson appears on “Lady Day & John Coltrane” and “Is That Jazz?” Spoken interludes featuring Wes Felton and Raquel Ra Brown punctuate the longer performances, while “Racetrack in France” brings together Josh Milan, J. Ivy, and Moodymann. Available on triple vinyl, double CD, and digitally, the program includes extended and 12-inch versions that allow its grooves to develop at length. The closing sequence of “Winter in America,” featuring Rich Medina, and “New York City,” with Cindy Mizelle, Dawn Tallman, and Ramona Dunlap, keeps the emphasis on community, place, and the enduring relevance of the repertoire.