Jazz and Politics Mix on Jeff Lederer's New Album
Jeff Lederer, the multi-talented saxophonist and composer, is back with a musical gut punch aimed squarely at the current political landscape. His new album, Guilty!!!, drops October 7th via his label little (i) music, just as the Supreme Court kicks off its fall term.
The timing is no accident - Lederer's latest work is a razor-sharp critique of dishonest political discourse built on a foundation of digital samples and bi-textual compositions.
Joining Lederer are his longtime collaborators, previously known as Swing n' Dix: Kirk Knuffke on cornet and slide trumpet, Bob Stewart on tuba, and Matt Wilson on drums. The ensemble gets an extra boost from trombonist/electronic wizard Curtis Hasselbring and vocalist/lyricist Mary LaRose.
Guilty!!! is a concept piece that tackles truth and lies head-on. Lederer explains, "I wanted to focus on the idea of telling the truth and lying, both in public speech and playing music." The result is a collection where "truth" tracks lean on organic instrumentation, while "lie" tracks are awash in electronics and chaotic political soundbites.
Standout tracks include "Buzzsaw," featuring snippets of Marjorie Taylor Greene, and "Buttigieg vs. Sanders," which Lederer describes as a nostalgic look back at "simpler" political times. "Cheapening the Process" takes a swing at George Santos, set to a bossa nova because, as Lederer quips, "he is kind of a fake Brazilian."
The album's heavy hitter is its title track, "Guilty!!!," co-written by Hasselbring and Wilson. It's based on Adam Schiff's speech delivering 34 "guilty" verdicts - a melodic cadence that Hasselbring transcribed into a surprisingly catchy tune.
Knowledgeable fans will appreciate the cover art, which pays homage to Jackie McLean's 1964 classic It's Time!. If you're feeling fired up after listening, Lederer is organizing a multi-city event where local musicians will perform tracks from Guilty!!!, culminating in a mass stream performance of "Truth is Marching In" on Election Eve (November 4th) at 9 pm EST.
Guilty!!! hits all digital platforms and little (i) music on October 7th.
Lawrence Peryer
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