#8. 3 February 2018

first, i've been more or less obsessed with the following (most of which haven't even been released yet).

Wadada Leo Smith America's National Parks :: 
whyyyyyy Wadada why are you so good?? my favorite trumpet sound in the world and one of my most favorite approaches to organizing sound compositionally and also such a brilliant bringer-together of the most perfect artists for the music. this album is often deceptively stark while still grooving like crazy and setting off a "grandpa on the roof with a pvc pipe" type of fireworks display in my chest and guts.
also, Cuneiform, the label that released this album 18 months ago has announced that they won't be putting out any new music in 2018. because nobody is buying stuff. LET'S FIX THAT SHALL WE.


Jean Rohe :: 
Jean's pledgemusic campaign is wrapping up (like in the next couple hours) and i can't believe i didn't send this message earlier. click the link to go preorder her record. i'm on it. but honestly who cares? Jean is just the greatest. and that's enough. unbelievable voice, incomparable storyteller, clever and funky and deeply moving songwriter. all this adds up to 100 as far as i'm concerned. BUT WAIT there's more. her commitment to social justice and the spread of joy and love and understanding is central to her music and her life ... i cry at literally every one of her concerts. click the link. buy the thing.


Subtle Degrees A Dance That Empties ::
i've spent a lot of time with Travis Laplante over the past few years. he's tireless in his pursuit of healing the world both through music and ancient eastern healing practices. i guess he decided he didn't have quite enough going on so he composed and learned to play the single most insane and impossibly moving and impossibly difficult piece of saxophone music i've ever heard anyone even attempt. this record comes out February 23 and features Travis duo with Gerald Cleaver, who is the best drummer. just the best. sweet christ. get this in your life immediately. 
their record release show is at Union Pool on March 4. cancel everything. go to it. NOT JOKING.


Erica Eso 129 Dreamless GMG ::
Weston Minissali and company have been doing this for a couple years and it's crystalized into the most awesome groovy gliss-synth un-pop-rock. their new record comes out on NNA Tapes on March 16 (clicky above) and their teaser track Gun-metal Grey makes me feel like i'm dancing with Sade in a lucid fever dream. they're touring, too. clickety click click.