2014 · Album
The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint
Blue Note, Capitol, and Universal · Released: March 10, 2014 · Album Number: Third studio album
Akinmusire's Third Statement: Imagined Savior Arrives
The album finds Akinmusire pushing deeper into darker territory, unafraid to sit with difficult emotions.
By 2014, Ambrose Akinmusire had already proven himself a distinctive voice in contemporary jazz — someone willing to follow his instincts rather than chase trends. The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint is his third studio album, and it shows a musician getting more comfortable with contradiction and complexity. The title itself suggests something Akinmusire seems genuinely interested in: the gap between what we imagine and what's real, the easier lies versus harder truths.
This record sits darker than his earlier work, with arrangements that lean into minor keys and open space. Akinmusire's trumpet playing here is less about flash and more about patience — he lets notes breathe, sometimes holding back until the moment feels right. The band around him (personnel details vary across sources, so I'll stick to what's essential) supports this restraint rather than working against it. If you've heard his first two albums, you'll recognize the aesthetic refining itself rather than shifting entirely. Not his most accessible work, but that's partly the point.
Where does this album fit in his story? It's the record where Akinmusire seems to have stopped trying to convince anyone of anything and just started making the music he needed to make. That confidence matters. The album isn't perfect — some passages feel a touch repetitive — but it's genuinely his in a way that counts. For listeners already familiar with Akinmusire, it's essential. For newcomers, his earlier albums might hit faster, but stick with this one long enough and you'll understand why he made it.
Who's playing
Harish Raghavanbass
Sam Harrispiano
Charles Alturaguitar
Walter Smith IIItenor saxophone
Ambrose Akinmusiretrumpet
Elena Pinderhughesflute
Justin Browndrums
Kallie Ciechomskiviola
Maria Imviolin
Maria Jefferscello
Brooke Quiggins Saulnierviolin
