Blending two of his standout groups — the Remembrance Quintet and the Silt Trio — Luke Stewart’s The Order isn’t just a live recording. It’s a carefully crafted narrative experience, reshaped after an epic studio performance to tell a deep, flowing story through sound.
The album explores themes of memory, survival, ancestral roots, and the preciousness of shared time. Spoken word performances by No Land and Janice Lowe link The Order thematically to Stewart’s earlier Remembrance work, weaving poetry directly into the music.
Tracks like “Memory” and “River Road” showcase Daniel Carter’s luminous horn work, set against the heavy groove of Stewart’s bass and Chad Taylor’s inventive percussion. Pieces like “Survive” reference Carter's groundbreaking history with groups like In Order to Survive, while "Chain Gang" evokes struggles past and present, finding catharsis in communal rhythm.
Luke Stewart's method fuses free improvisation with a deep intuitive structure — musical lines and rhythms are introduced without roadmaps, allowing the ensemble to react instinctively, creating compositions that feel alive and urgent.
More About Luke Stewart and His Collaborators
Luke Stewart’s rise from Mississippi's Gulf Coast to a key voice in New York’s avant-garde jazz scene is a story of self-discovery and fearless exploration. After surviving Hurricane Katrina and moving to D.C., he quickly became a central figure, both onstage and behind the scenes — co-founding CapitalBop.com and hosting shows on WPFW radio.
Each member of the Silt Remembrance Ensemble brings decades of deep musical roots:
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Daniel Carter, nearing his 80th birthday, is a living legend whose collaborations span the worlds of jazz, experimental rock, and hip-hop.
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Brian Settles, a D.C. native, moves effortlessly between tight ensemble work and open-ended improvisation.
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Jamal Moore bridges jazz tradition and Afro-futurism, creating new soundscapes from Baltimore’s vital creative scene.
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Chad Taylor, one of the most sought-after drummers in free music today, has worked with giants like Fred Anderson, Pharoah Sanders, and Nicole Mitchell.
Together, they embody the spirit of exploration and remembrance, making The Order a powerful testament to the music’s roots — and its endless future.
Tracklist — The Order
Memory (2:04)
Remember (5:06)
River Road (6:56)
Survive (6:35)
Repeat (2:08)
Silt Remembrance (6:02)
Lion’s Den (7:27)
Claimed (5:45)
The Order (2:20)
Commandments (6:58)
Chain Gang (7:37)
Attention [bonus] (11:55)
The Poet [bonus] (4:28)
Meet the Ensemble
Daniel Carter – alto saxophone, trumpet
Brian Settles – tenor saxophone
Jamal Moore – alto & tenor saxophones, woodwinds, percussion
Luke Stewart – bass, poetry
Chad Taylor – drums, percussion
Guest Poets:
No Land (track 1)
Janice Lowe (track 9)
Recorded at Tonal Park Studios, Takoma Park, MD (September 24, 2023)
Mixed by Charlie Pilzer
Mastered by Don Godwin
Produced by Luke Stewart & Clay Fink
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