Matana Roberts is one of the most acclaimed, socio-politically conscious and aesthetically intrepid avant-jazz practitioners of the 21st century.
The critical accolades for their work, place them at the vanguard of stylistic innovation and radicalisation, while confirming the deep substance and soul that guides their compositional agenda. Roberts has long employed the phrase “panoramic sound quilting”, creating a sound art tapestry from field recordings, loop and effects pedals, and spoken word recitations, alongside their saxophone and singing voices. Through the Coin Coin project, Roberts creates an adventurous and socially engaged definition of what jazz can mean today, maintaining a deep and substantive engagement with narrative, history, community, and political expression within sonic structures. This work is a testament to their commitment to exploring and exposing the rich, multifaceted traditions of American creative expression.
“the saxophonist fuses free jazz and folk spirituals into an ecstatic confrontation with American history at its darkest.” – PITCHFORK
