Asher Gamedze Turbulence & Pulse

Cape Town, South Africa-based drummer Asher Gamedze explores relationships of time between music and history on his new album Turbulence and Pulse, out on International Anthem in collaboration with Johannesburg-based label Mushroom Hour Half Hour.

Though this is Gamedze's first record with International Anthem as a leader, fans of AngelBat Dawids' debut, The Oracle, mightr ecognize his name from their epic first-meeting-turned-song: Capetown or from his drumming on Angel and Tha Brothahoods Live. Close followers of free music may also know Asher from last year's offering on Astral Spirits, Out Side Work (which features scorching duets with fellow Brothahood member Xristian Espino: Sun City Girls Alan Bishop), or from his ZUZU debut album Dialectic Soul, which was ranked in the New York Times' Top Ten Jazz Albums of the Year.

Turbulence and Pulse comes as a reset and a reintroduction, even while Gamedze is again joined by his core quartet from Dialectic Soul -South African musicians Thembinkosi Mavimbela (bass), Robin Fassie (trumpet), and Buddy Wells (tenor sax).

The album opener "Turbulence's Pulse" serves as a manifesto to inform the album that follows: a multi-rhythmic groove exploration of a collection of pieces initially composed by Gamedze on piano. The result is his most soulful and accessible album yet, and a sweet-vet-energetic addition to the South African jazz cannon.