For those unaware, Ingrid Laubrock is an experimental saxophonist and composer, interested in exploring the borders between musical realms and creating multi-layered, dense and often evocative sound worlds.

A prolific composer, Laubrock was named a “true visionary” by pianist and The Kennedy Center’s artistic director Jason Moran, and a “fully committed saxophonist and visionary” by the New Yorker. Her composition Vogelfrei was nominated one of the best 25 Classical tracks of 2018 by The New York Times.

Out April 11th, 2025, her brand new album is entitled Purposing The Air and yet again marks another adventurous exploration of sound that she has become well known for within her already much storied career.

(Fay Victor & Mariel Roberts)
1. Koan 28 2. Koan 13 3. Koan 55 4. Koan 15 5. Koan 47 6. Koan 11 7. Koan 18 8. Koan 37 9. Koan 12 10. Koan 38 11. Koan 46 12. Koan 39 13. Koan 43 14. Koan 35 15. Koan 58

(Sara Serpa & Matt Mitchell)
16. Koan 5 17. Koan 3 18. Koan 7 19. Koan 48 20. Koan 29 21. Koan 42 22. Koan 31 23. Koan 36 24. Koan 49 25. Koan 25 26. Koan 56 27. Koan 17 28. Koan 6 29. Koan 20 30. Koan 9 31. Koan 8

(Theo Bleckmann & Ben Monder)
32. Koan 23 33. Koan 10 34. Koan 24 35. Koan 30 36. Koan 32 37. Koan 33 38. Koan 45 39. Koan 40 40. Koan 14 41. Koan 59 42. Koan 60 43. Koan 53 44. Koan 51 45. Koan 54

(Rachel Calloway & Ari Streisfeld)
46. Koan 1 47. Koan 34 48. Koan 22 49. Koan 19 50. Koan 26 51. Koan 21 52. Koan 57 53. Koan 27 54. Koan 41 55. Koan 50 56. Koan 52 57. Koan 44 58. Koan 2 59. Koan 16 60. Koan 4

This beautifully crafted, elegantly structured new recording opens on a selection from Fay Victor & Mariel Roberts and the esoteric Koan 28, the jagged Koan 13 and the atmospheric Koan 55 and then we get the choir-liked Koan 15, the industrial Koan 47, the flouncy skat of Koan 11, the staggered freestyle of Koan 18, and they are in turn backed by the stuttery Koan 37, an aching yearn that threads through Koan 12, the resonant Koan 38, the fierce Koan 46 and the breathy Koan 39, the laid low Koan 43, the ethereal Koan 35, before the veritably shimmering Koan 58 is brought forth.

Along next is a set from Sara Serpa & Matt Mitchell and which begins with the playful Koan 5, the articulate Koan 3, and the jangly Koan 7, and then we get the flirtatiously sculpted Koan 48, the gently pulsing Koan 29, the vibrantly cultured Koan 42 and then comes the frisky Koan 31, the glistening Koan 36, the sparkling Koan 49 and a resolute Koan 25, which are in turn backed by the expressive Koan 56, the gossamer of Koan 17, the loquacious Koan 6, a stillness brought forth within Koan 20, this set ending on the sportive Koan 9 and the languishing Koan 8.

Then we are graced with a selection from Theo Bleckmann & Ben Monder, which itself opens on the robust Koan 23, the crashing Koan 10, the didgeridoo-imbibed Koan 24 and the lush soundscape that is Koan 30 and then we get brought forth the electronically scratchy Koan 32, the ornate Koan 33, some beautiful acoustic guitar work the helps drive Koan 45, the foreboding Koan 40 and the all-embracing, Celtic-esque Koan 14, then we get the echoey electric guitar work of Koan 59, the impassioned Koan 60, the stoic Koan 53, some whistling and guitar work that comes together for Koan 51 and the industrially-hued Koan 54 are elegantly delivered to us.

The final set is from Rachel Calloway & Ari Streisfeld, and which opens on the strident fare of Koan 1, the fluid Koan 34, the impressive Koan 22, the polished Koan 19 and the layered ,20 seconds of Koan 26 and they are in turn backed by the cinematic Koan 21, the fervent Koan 57, the quieted Koan 27, the perky Koan 41, and then we get the rotund Koan 50, the gripping Koan 52 and the set comes to a close, as does the entire recording, on a preciseness of breath within Koan 44, the emboldened Koan 2, a stirring Koan 16 and the hardy fare of Koan 4.

Musicians:
Fay Victor - voice
Mariel Roberts - cello

Sara Serpa - voice
Matt Mitchell - piano

Theo Bleckmann -voice
Ben Monder - electric guitar

Duo Cortona:
Rachel Calloway - voice
Ari Streisfeld - violin

Ingrid has worked with: Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richards Abrams, Dave Douglas, Kenny Wheeler, Jason Moran, Tim Berne, William Parker, Tom Rainey, Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, Craig Taborn, Andy Milne, Luc Ex, Django Bates’ Human Chain, The Continuum Ensemble, Wet Ink and many others.

www.ingridlaubrock.com