Props to jazz-hip-hop-funksters Adrian Young and Ali Shaheed Muhammed and their Jazz is Dead label for reaffirming the 'international treasure' status of such revolutionary artists as Roy Ayers and Gary Bartz. Now, finally, the series presents iconic singer and voice coach Jean Carne, 74, veteran of collaborations with Earth Wind & Fire, Lonnie Liston Smith and her former husband, the renowned black consciousness hero Doug Carn (himself the subject of Jazz is Dead 005).

Having been remixed by house maestro Ron Hardy and sampled by DJ/producer Madlib, Jean Carne collaborates whole-heartedly with the visionary JID duo on tunes variously penned by herself (guitar-driven opener ‘Come As You Are’ finds her multi-octave vocals soaring, swooping and maintaining long, lung-defying notes), Shaheed Muhammed (whose customary vintage equipment includes Hammond, Fender Rhodes and mellotron) and on the gorgeous, Sun Ra-tastic ‘Black Rainbows’, soul star Loren Oden.

Carne’s voice is a thing of wonder, weaving jazz, soul and gospel with a keen sense of timing and space, her influence on the likes of Cécile McLorin Salvant and even Chaka Khan, a former student, palpable. Muhammed’s electric bass guitar is a solid presence throughout, but it’s the knowing retro-to-future vibe bestowed by both producers – particularly those cosmos-reaching keyboards – that make this a match made in jazz (hip-hop-funk) heaven.