The Squid's Ear Magazine


Waldman, Devin Brahja / Hamid Drake: Mediumistic Methodology [CASSETTE] (Astral Spirits)

Evoking the spirit of a seance experienced by alto saxophonist Devin Brahja Waldman, the duo of Waldman and drummer Hamid Drake are captured live at Elastic Arts, in Chicago, beginning as a mysteriously delicate concert of intricately introspective playing and spiritual reflection, building to a free jazz drum & sax duo of powerful and enthusiastic release.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Devin Brahja Waldman-alto saxophone

Hamid Drake-drums


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Limited edition of 200 copies.

Label: Astral Spirits
Catalog ID: AS199CAS
Squidco Product Code: 32353

Format: CASSETTE
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: USA
Packaging: Cassette
Recorded at Elastic Arts, in Chicago, illenois, in December, 2019, by Caleb Willitz.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Alto sax player Devin Brahja Waldman lives in New York and leads his own group Brahja and is a member of Heroes Are Gang Leaders and Land of Kush. He also helps run the label Fast Speaking Music with his aunt, celebrated poet Anne Waldman. Master drummer Hamid Drake needs no introduction.

Waldman and Drake's duo was recorded live at Elastic Arts in Chicago in December 2019. The title of the album, Mediumistic Methodology, relates to a seance experience of Waldman and its tapping methodology that evoked the spirit of his grandmother who passed away before he was born. Waldman says that the table of the seance is "a common denominator between various forms of mediumistic and oracle methodologies - such as ouija board, table-turning, tarot, etc. The table serves as the meeting grounds between us and the spirits; where we sit down and commune with them".

Mediumistic Methodology is released as a limited edition of 200 cassettes plus a download option. It has a clear spiritual atmosphere, but it does not attempt to evoke the spirits of seminal sax and drums duets but the personal voices of Waldman and Drake. Waldman even takes Drake into much more subtle and abstract territories, especially in the meditative and quiet opening piece, the 18-minute "Knock Knock" and the following, the soulful "Esprit Es-Tu Lá", both build its tension slowly and methodically.

The second side of the cassette focuses on a much more powerful and rhythmic dialog between Waldman and Drake, especially on the percolating 17-minute "Table-turner" where both are pushing and pulling each other but also giving plenty of space for individual improvisation, as Waldman sketching melodic fragments while Drake offers explosive, funky patterns. The last piece "Ponder" returns full circle to the meditative opening but with more playful dynamics now and cements the stimulating spiritual interplay and affinity between Waldman and Drake."-Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts


Limited edition of 200 copies.

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Artist Biographies

"Devin Brahja Waldman is a New York saxophonist, drummer, synthesizer player and composer who leads the group BRAHJA. Waldman has accompanied his aunt, poet Anne Waldman, since the age of ten. Waldman is a co-founding member of Radical Reversal, Diva of Deva Loka, and Notable Deaths. He has performed with Patti Smith, William Parker, Nadah El Shazly, Malcolm Mooney, Thurston Moore, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Charles Hayward, Luke Stewart and Yoshiko Chuma. Waldman is also a member of NYC's Heroes Are Gang Leaders (led by poet Thomas Sayers Ellis and saxophonist James Brandon Lewis), of Sam Shalabi's Land of Kush, and of the Norwegian hardcore group MoE. As a youngster, Waldman was taken under the wing of avant-garde giant Paul Bley. Along with Anne Waldman and cousin Ambrose Bye, Waldman is a co-producer for Fast Speaking Music -a NYC poetry and music label which has released recordings with Amiri Baraka, Meredith Monk, William Parker, Laurie Anderson, Eileen Myles, CAConrad, Fred Moten, Daniel Carter, Clark Coolidge, Thurston Moore, Joanne Kyger and many others."

-Devin Brahja Waldman Website (http://www.brahjawaldman.com/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Hamid Drake (born August 3, 1955) is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. He lives in Chicago, IL but spends a great deal of time touring worldwide. By the close of the 1990s, Hamid Drake was widely regarded as one of the best percussionists in jazz and avant improvised music. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African percussion instruments and influence, in addition to using the standard trap set, Drake has collaborated extensively with top free-jazz improvisers. Drake also has performed world music; by the late 70s, he was a member of Foday Musa Suso's Mandingo Griot Society and has played reggae throughout his career.

Drake has worked with trumpeter Don Cherry, pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Fred Anderson, Archie Shepp and David Murray and bassists Reggie Workman and William Parker (in a large number of lineups)

He studied drums extensively, including eastern and Caribbean styles. He frequently plays without sticks; using his hands to develop subtle commanding undertones. His tabla playing is notable for his subtlety and flair. Drake's questing nature and his interest in Caribbean percussion led to a deep involvement with reggae."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamid_Drake)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



SIDE A



1. Knock Knock 17:31

2. Espirit Es-Tu La 6:19

SIDE B



1. Encounter 1:32

2. Table-Turner 16:35

3. Ponder 6:47

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Improvised Music
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