Gocta

Sanchez and Binney deliver a musical experience that belongs in the spiritual lineage of some of the great jazz of the 1960s, but with its eye on a planetary future that is both exciting and uncertain.

The ninth CAM JAZZ album by Mexican born Antonio Sanchez reunites him with saxophonist David Binney, with whom the drummer and composer recorded the critically acclaimed New Life in 2013. Now, with guitarist Ben Monder and bassist Matt Brewer, they have created a richly textured album of taut but atmospheric modern jazz. Gocta conjures up remote and sometimes formidable landscapes, but always with some human dimension. The album’s long improvisations never descend into impressionism or fall back on harmonic gesturing. Every sound seems to be part of a journey and integral to it. The effect is too immersive to be casually defined as “cinematic”. These are movies in which the listener is profoundly invested. Using keyboards and samples to widen their sound-world, and with consistently inventive play from Monder and Brewer, who are two of the best in the business. (Brian Morton)

Recorded in August 2017 at Avatar Studios in New York City.  Recording engineer Dave Darlington.

Cover design Nevena Binney  -  Photos © Justin Bettman