Today, the Spotlight was meant to shine On drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith, whose album Laugh Ash was released earlier this year on Pyroclastic Records (https://pyroclasticrecords.com/release/laugh-ash/) . As we arranged to get together, Ches suggested we include Shara Lunon, the transdisciplinary poet, vocalist, composer, and improviser featured on the album.
Laugh Ash is one of the most intriguing records I have encountered in quite some time, with its mix of form and improvisation, acoustic and synthetic, quiet and explosiveness.
In addition to Ches and Shara, the album includes an all-star cast from today’s creative music scene: flutist Anna Webber, clarinetist Oscar Noriega, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, trumpeter Nate Wooley, violinist Jennifer Choi, violist Kyle Armbrust, cellist Michael Nicolas, and bassist/keyboardist Shahzad Ismaily.
It is an exciting work and we had a great conversation. Enjoy.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Ches Smith’s album Laugh Ash)
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Dig Deeper
• Purchase Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash on Qobuz (https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/laugh-ash-ches-smith/bnr0yp1et0l1a) or Bandcamp (https://chessmithpyroclastic.bandcamp.com/album/laugh-ash) , and listen on your streaming platform of choice (https://lynkify.in/album/laugh-ash/EA52Ou4W)
• Visit Ches Smith at chessmith.com (https://www.chessmith.com/) and follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/smithches/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067640719122)
• Visit Shara Lunon at sharalunon.com (https://www.sharalunon.com/) and follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sharalunon)
• Ches Smith’s ‘Laugh Ash’ Is Exhilarating Music (https://www.popmatters.com/ches-smith-laugh-ash-review)
• Ches Smith About Improvisation (https://15questions.net/interview/ches-smith-about-improvisation/page-1/)
• ListN Up Playlist: Shara Lunon (https://icareifyoulisten.com/2023/08/listn-up-playlist-shara-lunon-august-10-2023/)
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com (https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com/episodes/)
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