Drummer, composer, and bandleader Asher Gamedze formed a new 10-piece ensemble: The Black Lungs. Together they announce the new album Consitution, to be released on the 30th of August via International Anthem. The expansive double album - recorded in a one-day-session in Cape Town – is an elaboration of the possibilities of autonomous constitution in and through polyrhythmic, modal, large ensemble music.
Leading up to the release, the group share the opening track Find Each Other. The piece begins with poet Fred Moten’s unaccompanied voice and from which polyrhythms begin to develop, dropping in and out as the 10-piece ensemble gathers their more and more. The result is a self-reflexive mission statement.
*Update: you can now also listen to the track High Land. New Home:
At Le Guess Who? 2024, Asher Gamedze presents a unique performance with Another Time Ensemble, a quintet made up of some Cairo’s finest improvisers: Maurice Louca, Alan Bishop, Cherif El-Masri, and Adham Zidan. Their first performance together was released as Another Side in 2022. The group perceives music and time as manifold, and soundtracks the thought that another time is possible.
Asher Gamedze with Another Time Ensemble perform at Le Guess Who? 2024 on Friday 8 November. Also performing at the festival are a.o. Arooj Aftab, aja monet, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic heritage Ensemble and many more.
Photography by Niclas Weber (header) and Lungiswa Gqunta.
