OUT THIS WEEK: Constitution by Asher Gamedze & the Black Lungs
IARC0084
Asher Gamedze & The Black Lungs
Constitution
2LP/CD/DD out this Friday August 30th, 2024
(( full album out on streaming platforms September 12th ))
Releasing worldwide on vinyl 2LP, CD, and digital download this Friday: Constitution by Cape Town, South Africa based drummer, composer, and bandleader Asher Gamedze with his new 10-piece ensemble The Black Lungs.
In the 81-minute double album, dynamic avant jazz arrangements and explorations are animated and deepened by word-fragments and samples of poems written and recited by renowned scholar and inhabitant of the undercommons, Fred Moten.
“With every composition, Gamedze attempts to peel back layers of our forgotten past. He stands as a constant reminder of the beauty of living in hope and fighting for a liberated future. This music reflects the times we are living in — it’s urgent, it’s driving, it speaks to the soul.” - Tseliso Monaheng, Okay Africa
"All the instrumental voices sound; there’s antagonism in the heterophony of their debates... At the end, the many voices that have spoken in solos become, not one, but rather many together, generating upbeat revolutionary energy." – Gwen Ansell, sisgwenjazz
"Gamedze — like fellow International Anthem artists Makaya McCraven, Daniel Villarreal, and Tom Skinner — leads a band as a drummer in such a supportive, thoughtful way... It’s the generosity of someone who’s exceptionally good and confident in their talent and artistry." – Kevin Hyde, Molars
“There's acknowledgement in the forms within of the history of jazz, with stylistic detours reminiscent of the best work of composers and musicians we grew up on. Still, Constitution is the album where Asher Gamedze has become one of the greats himself.” – Glenn Griffith, A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
((( Photo courtesy of Ergot Records, NYC )))
!!! Buy it IRL !!!
Constitution is available in record stores across the globe this Friday. Please consider showing your neighborhood small business some love and head out and grab a copy from an independent record shop this weekend!
If you don't know where to go, below (and on our website) is a list of places we've confirmed have stocked the album in their stores this weekend.
Austin, TX - Breakaway Records
Austin, TX - Waterloo Records
Baltimore, MD - Sound Garden
Belfast, UK - First Press
Berkeley, CA - Amoeba Music
Berlin, DE - HHV
Berlin, DE - Morr Music
Berlin, DE - Scratch Records
Bloomington, IN - Landlocked Music
Boise, ID - Sonic Boom Records
Brighton, UK - Family Store
Brighton, UK - Mr. Bongo
Brighton, UK - Resident
Cardiff, UK - Spillers Records
Charlotte, NC - Lunchbox Records
Chicago, IL - 606 Records
Chicago, IL - Dusty Groove
Chicago, IL - Reckless Records (Belmont)
Chicago, IL - Reckless Records (Loop)
Chicago, IL - Reckless Records (Wicker Park)
Chicago, IL - Tone Deaf Records
Chicago, IL - Torn Light Records
Cincinnati, OH - Shake It
Coventry, UK - Just Dropped In
Davenport, IA - Ragged Records
Dayton, OH - Omega Music
Denver, CO - Twist & Shout
Doylestown, PA - Siren Records
Dublin, IR - Freebird
Dublin, IR - Spindizzy
Dublin, IR - Tower Records
Durham, NC - Chaz's Bull City Records
Edmonton, AB - Blackbyrd Myoozik
Edmonton, AB - Blackbyrd Myoozik
Encinitas, CA - Lou's Records
Fulda, DE - Marleen Schallplatten
Glasgow, UK - Some Great Reward
Hamburg, DE - Groove City
Hamburg, DE - Michelle Records
Hamburg, DE - Zardoz
Hannover, DE - 25 Music
Huddersfield, UK - Vinyl Tap
Iowa City, IA - Record Collector
Kansas City, MO - Mills Record Company
Kassel, DE - Scheibenbeisser
Lawrence, KS - Love Garden Sounds
Leigh, UK - Sticky Black Tarmac
Little Canada, MN - Cheapo Discs
London, UK - Dreamhouse
London, UK - Honest Jons
London, UK - Phonica Records
London, UK - Rough Trade West
London, UK - Sounds of the Universe
London, UK - Stranger Than Paradise Records
London, UK - World of Echo
Long Beach, CA - Fingerprints
Loveland, OH - Plaid Room Records
Manchester, UK - Piccadilly
Miami, FL - Sweat Records
Minneapolis, MN - Electric Fetus
Montreal, QC - Barnacle Records
Montreal, QC - Explosive Groove Disquaire
Montreal, QC - Le Vacarme
Montreal, QC - Patient Records
Montreal, QC - Sonorama Disques
Munich, DE - Echt Optimal
Nashville, TN - Grimey's
New Orleans, LA - Euclid Records
New York, NY - Ergot Records
Norwich, UK - Venus Vinyl
Nuremberg, DE - Mono-Ton
Opelika, AL - 10,000 Hz Records
Oxford, UK - Truck
Pittsburgh, PA - The Government Center
Portland, OR - Clinton St. Records
Portland, OR - Jackpot Records
Portland, OR - Mississippi Records
Portland, OR - Music Millennium
Princeton, NJ - Princeton Record Exchange
Raleigh, NC - Jitterbug Sights & Sounds
Richmond, VA - Biscuits & Vinyl
San Francisco, CA - Amoeba Music
San Luis Obispo, CA - Boo Boo Records
Seattle, WA - Hex Enduction Records & Books
Seattle, WA - Silver Platters
Seattle, WA - Sonic Boom Records
Sheffield, UK - Bear Tree Records
St. Petersburg, FL - Daddy Kool Records
Toronto, ON - Atom Heart
Toronto, ON - Birdman Sound
Toronto, ON - Bluestreak Records
Toronto, ON - Elevated Music
Toronto, ON - Sonic Boom
Vancouver, BC - Audiopile Records
Vienna, AT - Substance Recordstore
Wallingford, CT - Redscroll Records
Whitstable, UK - Gatefield Sounds
Zapopan, JA - Tea Recs
((( photo by Lungiswa Gqunta )))
About Asher Gamedze
Asher Gamedze is a cultural worker based in Cape Town, South Africa, involved in music, education and history. As an independent musician he works as a drummer, composer and bandleader. A versatile drummer with an open sound and sensibility, Gamedze plays across and between multiple traditions of music including free improvisation, soul music, rock ‘n roll, and many locally situated traditions from Southern Africa. He has performed extensively in South Africa and other parts of the African continent including Egypt, Lesotho and Malawi. Gamedze has been on multiple European tours and has also played in the USA, particularly in Chicago where he has a big community. Gamedze has performed and recorded with: Angel Bat Dawid, Ben LaMar Gay, Nduduzo Makhathini, Alan Bishop, Salim Washington, Sharif Shenaoui, Donna Khalife, and many others.
<<< Upcoming Shows >>>
Asher Gamedze: Quartet
30 August - Jazz Festival Willisau - Willisau, Switzerland
1 September - Amboss & Steigbügel - St. Gallen, Switzerland
26 October - Jazz Jantar - Gdansk, Poland
27 October - Enjoy Jazz - Ludwigshafen, Germany
Asher Gamedze: Another Time Ensemble
8 November - Le Guess Who - Utrecht, Netherlands
*Classic Vinyl Package*
Classic Black Gatefold 2xLP
Constitution comes on two Classic Black vinyl LPs inside a heavyweight reverse-board gatefold jacket with obi strip and poly-lined IARC printed inner-sleeves. Lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST and pressed at Pallas in Germany..
We also have a compact disk option in a 4-panel digipack, which includes the digital pre-order of Constitution.
((( photo by Lungiswa Gqunta )))
