Steve Lehman has always played around with diverse influences—studying saxophone with Anthony Braxton and Jackie McLean while also investigating avant-classical techniques. And he’s down to use these progressive-jazz skills to do things like transcribe GZA songs. His latest group strides onto hip-hop territory with confidence, too, thanks in part to rappers hailing from different continents: NYC's HPrizm and the Senegalese artist Gaston Bandimic.
If that all seems like potentially too much going on, a five-second hit of “Are You in Peace?” shows how balanced their forthcoming debut sounds. The lurching intro features sampled vocals, ecstatically thumping percussion from Damion Reid, as well as a harsh, keening lick from Maciek Lasserre’s soprano horn (a motif that should impress fans of early Bomb Squad productions). Lehman’s alto sax leads to HPrizm’s opening verse: “I’m independent but augmented by being in it/Stayed ill, never intended on blending in.” The two saxophonists soon collaborate on a descending line that collapses into unexpected rhythmic groupings—an all-acoustic suggestion of turntablist action. When it’s Bandimic’s turn to rhyme, the rapper delivers a conscious-style verse in his native language (find a translation here). In finessing this range of linguistic dexterity and instrumental expression, the worldliness of the band’s performance amounts to a startling new take on the posse cut.
