Jewel of Thought is Wino Willy’s most personal work to date, an Afrofuturist, Afro optimistic, and Afro surrealist instrumental hip hop record inspired by the Black women who have shaped his life and the quiet moments spent creating music alongside his daughters. Treating the sampler as a vessel for time travel, Wino Willy uses loops to revisit, reshape, and preserve memories, transforming everyday moments into cinematic compositions that shimmer like the gemstones for which each track is named.

Featuring luminous piano and Rhodes performances from Lauren Fuller throughout the album, along with Austin Clements’ psychedelic Funkadelic inspired bassline on “Turquoise,” Jewel of Thought blends textured boom bap, jazz improvisation, and soulful harmony into a deeply immersive listening experience. Collaborations with Leaux Fye Tribe on “Turquoise” and “Peridot” evoke the adventurous spirit of Yesterday’s New Quintet, while tracks like “Opal” and “Emerald” showcase Wino Willy’s distinctive approach to rhythm, memory, and instrumental storytelling.