Anthem For Peace

Description

Alto saxophonist and flutist, Alan Braufman is a unique voice in the New York loft jazz scene of the 1970s with his first album, Valley of Search (1975), which would later become a milestone of spiritual jazz and free jazz. After decades of absence, Braufman made a triumphant return with the release of two highly acclaimed albums in 2020 and 2024, establishing him as an essential figure and a major player in the contemporary scene, long referred to as a "free jazz legend." Recorded in a single day in the fall of 2025, Anthem for Peace is an unreleased studio album that reveals Braufman in all his current splendor. Leading a quartet composed of vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Chad Taylor, he delivers concise and impactful compositions, fluidly oscillating between spiritual anthems, engaging post-bop, and hypnotic themes with Eastern influences. Brennan's vibraphone, with its shimmering acoustic tones and sometimes electronically treated sounds, adds depth and color, while Stewart and Taylor form a rhythm section of exceptional cohesion and responsiveness. The result is optimistic, precise music driven by a decidedly forward-looking dynamic.