Ned Rothenberg Returns with Looms & Legends: A Masterclass in Intimate Improvisation

Multi-instrumentalist Ned Rothenberg is back with his first solo album in 13 years, Looms & Legends, out September 5, 2025 via Pyroclastic Records. Known as “America’s most intimate composer and improviser” (All Music Guide), Rothenberg showcases his unique voice on alto saxophone, clarinets, bass clarinet, and shakuhachi flute, weaving mesmerizing, narrative-driven improvisations that push sonic and spatial boundaries.

“Rothenberg reconciles an unapologetically cerebral approach with accessibility and emotional expression. No mean feat, indeed.” – Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

On Looms & Legends, Rothenberg continues to develop the singular language he has honed over more than four decades. His first solo recording since 2012’s World of Odd Harmonics (Tzadik) reveals a master storyteller capable of creating rich, multi-layered musical landscapes. The album’s title hints at its dual approach: weaving melodic narratives (“Y-axis”) alongside expansive, immersive sonic textures (“X-axis”), inviting listeners to engage actively with each composition.

“In my improvisations, there are the more melodic pieces that have a definite sense of starting at a certain place and taking you along a storyline. Then there are the ‘loom' pieces, which present the listener a rich and atypical aural environment in which to weave their own subjective narrative,” Rothenberg explains.

Each track is a journey. From the brisk, ascending miniatures of “Brief Tall Tale” to the shifting, multiphonic landscapes of “Urgency,” Rothenberg conjures worlds of color and resonance. Highlights include:

• Fra Gile – Ethereal clarinet melodies unfurl like delicate tendrils exploring the surrounding sonic environment.

• BellKeyBell – A percussive alto sax exploration that reduces the instrument to key clicks and resonances, creating an intimate portrait of sound.

• Dance Above – A propulsive opener pulsating with rhythm, balancing grace and intensity.

• Resistance Anthem – Rothenberg’s original composition, a marchlike reflection on the role of art in a challenging cultural moment.

• ’Round Midnight – A haunting shakuhachi rendition of Thelonious Monk’s classic, timeless in its mournful beauty.

The album balances improvisation with a few carefully chosen compositions, allowing Rothenberg to guide listeners through both structured and exploratory spaces.

Rothenberg’s studies of African and Asian musical traditions, combined with decades of performance experience across five continents, have shaped a sound that is both worldly and entirely his own. He describes his work as “future primitivism,” imagining music as the indigenous sounds of an undiscovered culture, centered on circular breathing and woodwind exploration.

“I feel like musicians who are doing work of depth need to push back against the TikTok culture… An album like this goes against the grain, where music has to grab you in 30 seconds. I can unapologetically say that's never what I've been about.”

Rothenberg has performed globally both solo and in ensembles like Crossings 4 (with Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson, and Tomas Fujiwara) and Sync (with Jerome Harris and Samir Chatterjee). His collaborations include Evan Parker, Marc Ribot, Sainkho Namchylak, and John Zorn. His discography spans solo and ensemble recordings including Lockdown, World of Odd Harmonics, Ryu Nashi, and Inner Diaspora.

Looms & Legends is set for release on September 5, 2025.