Asher Gamedze: “Alibama”

Another gem off International Anthem, Asher Gamedze. This time the Chicago label goes all the way to South Africa (or South Africa comes all the way to Chicago) to share another continent’s vision of what percussion-led jazz can sound like in the twenty-first century. Is it “psychedelic”? Yeah, sure, maybe. Or maybe that’s just a healthy sense of humor that we hear in the footloose musical decision-making of our highlighted track “Alibama.” A loose, “after hours” vibe pervades the track, which starts nowhere and ends nowhere and gives you what you want from improv at all points in between.
Stream, share, buy to your heart’s content.
There’s no more experiment in “experimentalism” — who cares?
Intricate Mouse Work put on their lab coats at Midway Cafe.
Collected Works: all the reviews from The New Colossus Fest 2025.