Cold Drinks, Hot Dreams, by Atrás del Cosmos

Cold Drinks, Hot Dreams

by Atrás del Cosmos

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arewara Este proyecto es un hito histórico en los albores del free jazz en México. Un cassette agotado hace décadas. Esta versión digital es una de las grandes novedades del año.

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LP pressed at RTI. Tip-on jacket printed at Stoughton Printing Co.

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1.	Cold Drinks 10:28	buy track
2.	Clapping Hand II 04:20	buy track
3.	M.D. 07:28	buy track
4.	Hot Dreams 08:56	buy track
5.	Hanne IV 05:05	buy track
6.	What Reason / Clapping Hand I / Baba 08:12	buy track

about

Atrás del Cosmos have been called Mexico’s first free jazz ensemble. Founded in 1975 by pianist Ana Ruiz, saxophonist Henry West, and percussionist Evry Mann, the trio soon became a central force in Mexico City’s creative arts community, mentoring a generation of improvisers, incorporating a revolving cast of artists into their immersive happenings, and sustaining a scene through their legendary weekly performances at El Galeón theater. The group’s celestial name stems from the reality of these daily activities: untold hours spent living and rehearsing in a residential building behind (‘atrás) the Cosmos cinema, honing their improvisatory alignment with the kind of everyday intensity that animated the Arkestra pad in Philadelphia or the Tapscott houses in Los Angeles. In 1977, Atrás invited Don Cherry to play and instruct on his organic approach to music and improvisation, leading to new levels of national recognition for the group. Despite their catalytic creative presence in Mexico City between 1977 and 1983, Atrás never broke through abroad—not least because they were rarely recorded and only released a single cassette before their disbandment.

Now issued on LP for the first time, the aforementioned cassette, Cold Drinks, Hot Dreams, is an exhilarating live recording documenting the core group plus double-bassist Claudio Enriquez performing in 1980—an expansive improvised journey marked by contrasting moments of explosive heat and cool hypnotic calm. Atrás skilfully lead the listener through this varied terrain, drawing seamlessly on their experiences of the New York loft scene, classical pianism, and the surrealistic theatrics of Alejandro Jodorowsky. Ruiz’s distinctive sound—recalling Cecil Taylor’s percussive touch, Mal Waldron’s blues minimalism, and Horace Tapscott’s meditative radiance, but remaining entirely her own—holds the session from first to last. Evry Mann’s broad palette of percussion adds a welcome element of surprise to the proceedings, enriching the music with a graceful balafon solo, sonorous hand drums, and bursts of high octane trap set playing. Henry West’s saxophone rides high throughout, weaving around the ensemble with a fierce elegance. Now finally available after forty years, the music of Átras del Cosmos will be sure to captivate spiritual jazz veterans and newcomers alike.

credits

released April 19, 2024

Henry West–Saxophone
Ana Ruiz–Piano
Evry Mann–Drums andPercussion
Claudio Enriquez–Bass

A:
1.Cold Drinks (Ruiz)
2. Clapping Hand II (Mann)
3. M.D. (Dave Liebman)

B:
1.Hot Dreams (West)
2. Hanne IV (trad)
3. What Reason (Orenette Coleman)
4. Clapping Hand I (Ruiz/Mann)
5. Baba (Kenny Wheeler)

Recorded mostly live at Engineers Auditorium
Remastered from from ¼ tape and cassette
Audio transfer by Paul Gold at Salt Studios
Digital audio restoration and mastering by Stephan Mathieu at Schwebung Mastering

Design Alec Mapes-Frances
Blank Forms Editions 2024
BF–063

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Blank Forms Editions Brooklyn, New York

Blank Forms is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting emerging and underrepresented artists working in a range of time-based and interdisciplinary art practices, including experimental music, performance, dance, and sound art. Blank Forms provides artists with curatorial support, residencies, commissions, and publications to help document, disseminate, and advance their practices. ... more

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