New spiritual jazz project from Chicago-based visual & sound artist Damon Locks
Over the past few years, Chicago’s International Anthem has been one of the most forward-thinking labels, releasing breakthrough albums by Makaya McCraven, Ben LaMar Gay, Irreversible Entanglements, Jeff Parker, Jamie Branch, and others.
The label’s upcoming release, out May 31st, is a new project from Chicago-based visual and sound artist Damon Locks. Originally starting out as a solo sound piece using recorded Civil Rights speeches sequenced through a drum machine, the works have evolved over the past four years into a 15-piece group called the Black Monument Ensemble.
Inspired by Phil Cohran’s legendary Chicago-based collective, the Artistic Heritage Ensemble, and socially conscious recordings like Eddie Gale’s 1969 Black Rhythm Happening, Archie Shepp’s Attica’s Blues, and Public Enemy’s hip-hop classic It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, the group’s debut album, title Where Future Unfolds is a live recording of the ensemble’s epic debut at the Garfield Park Botanical Conservatory on the West Side of Chicago. The music brilliantly blends spiritual jazz melodies, head-nodding grooves, 808 beats, and soaring vocal chants, with historic speeches and spoken word recordings from the Civil Rights movement.
The first single “The Colors That You Bring” was recently released, and has quickly received high praise from numerous DJs, and online music outlets, including Gilles Peterson and Pitchfork. Where Future Unfolds is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated albums and powerful recordings of 2019.
Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble — ‘Where Future Unfolds’
(International Anthem Recording Co.)
1. Statement of Intent / Black Monument Theme
2. Sounds Like Now
3. Solar Power
4. Rebuild A Nation
5. Which I Believe It Will
6. Which I Believe I Am
7. The Colors That You Bring
8. The Future?
9. Power
10. From A Spark To A Fire
