Otherlands, a new experimental trio led by Brooklyn-based bassist Stephan Crump, featuring saxophonist Darius Jones and drummer Eric McPherson, celebrated the release of their debut album, “Star Mountain,” with two standout performances at The Jazz Gallery on October 17. The album, released by Swedish independent label Intakt Records, “arises from the pursuit of ego dissolution and spiritual community,” according to their Bandcamp profile. Together the trio showcased the dynamic range of not only themselves as players, but of each of their instruments, illustrating new and interesting musical possibilities through non-conventional use of their tools creating lush landscapes of noise and sound interweaved and juxtaposed against moments of groove, soul, and of course: swing. Otherlands can be seen as an expansion or reimagining of Borderlands, a trio consisting of Crump, McPherson, and pianist Kris Davis that is currently on hiatus according to Otherlands’ Bandcamp page. Jones, McPherson, and Crump, already established and respected voices in the New York jazz and avant-garde scenes, came together to showcase what exciting possibilities lie in the clashing of such distinct voices. The music’s relationship to “ego death” was on display, as the three virtuoso musicians committed to long passages of sound that at times sounded like the sea. Jones, who formerly taught at The New School and recently took a position at Wesleyan University, is a master manipulator of the horn, using that saxophone to highlight qualities of playing the instrument that may seem obvious, but are often overlooked or even intentionally hidden — the sound of the air moving through the horn and the percussive nature of pressing the buttons on the saxophone, for example, were central to Jones’ approach and sound at the performance on Friday.
Together, the trio questioned audience notions about the definition, dynamic range, and possibilities of what is considered jazz, leaning into the free, improvisational nature of the medium. Experimental music often has a reputation for being noisy, which for some makes it inaccessible or harder to digest. While these elements were at times present, at others the opposite notion persisted — moments of conventional beauty existed alongside more eclectic and abrasive passages. The trio will continue to perform select dates throughout the fall. You can check out Otherlands’ new album at their Bandcamp, find out information about their upcoming dates at Stephan Crump’s website at stephancrump.com, and stay up to date with Jazz Gallery programming on their calendar at jazzgallery.org.