Virtuoso New York, out July 11 via New Soil and Division 81. A striking live recording of a generational talent at the top of his game, Affirmations hears Cross join forces with Chicago saxophonist Isaiah Collier for a suite of unrestrained fire music, forged in the cauldron of the iconic NYC club - capturing the energy of Cross’ debut US show as one of just a handful to carry the Live at the Blue Note name. The album’s lead single, ‘Affirmations’ is available on all DSPs today.
A staple of Theon Cross’ live shows, the album’s title track and lead single, ‘Affirmations’, appears on record for the first time. A bold and expansive composition that boils up and simmers down over 14 epic minutes of live-wire soloing and collective expression, it captures the essence and dynamic range of Cross’ broad, sophisticated sound.
As Cross says, the track “speaks to the power of verbally and mentally affirming the things we wish to see for ourselves in our reality.” So for it to be released here first is a testament to its own success.
A contemporary document of live improvisation at its most fertile and free, Affirmations: Live at Blue Note New York steps into - and updates - a lineage that has seen the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson record live at the Blue Note.
Featuring a line-up that blends the best of London and Chicago talent, Cross is joined by rapidly rising saxophonist Isaiah Collier, whose albums Parallel Universe (2023, Night Dreamer), The Almighty (2024, Division 81), and The World is On Fire (2024, Division 81) garnered widespread acclaim in The New York Times, NPR, DownBeat, and more. Rounding out the ensemble is Collier’s drummer James Russell Sims and London-based guitarist Nikos Ziarkas (Chelsea Carmichael, Ron Trent, Moses Boyd), who has been close with Cross for several years.
While honouring the likes of John Coltrane’s Live at the Village Gate and Sonny Rollins’ Live at the Village Vanguard – from which Cross once transcribed all the bass solos to play on tuba – Affirmations arrives with a modern twist, structured like a DJ set to take listeners on a distinct and unique sonic journey.
Spliced with improvisations devised on the fly, the record’s 12 tracks features music from Cross’ 2019 album FYAH (Gearbox Records) and 2021’s INTRA – I (New Soil), as well as 2022’s ‘Wings’ previously released as 7” single with his version of Aswad’s ‘Back to Africa’ on the B side.
Since the release of his previous album three and half years ago, Cross has established himself as a consummate, versatile collaborator, working with Jon Baptiste, hip-hop royalty Common, and everyone from Ravi Coltrane and Makaya McCraven to Little Simz, The Smile and Stormzy.
There is nowhere more iconic than the Blue Note in NYC for Theon Cross to make his return to center stage.
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