Acclaimed saxophonist Darius Jones has announced the release of his new solo album under his own name, his first in five years; called Raw Demoon Alchemy (A Lone Operation), it will be out on November 5th via Northern Spy Records.
According to the press release, After separating from his partner of 10 years, saxophonist Darius Jones set out on tour “to capture a moment in time, to crystallize the beginning of something at the end of something else.” Born from a live performance — his last night on tour — Raw Demoon Alchemy (A Lone Operation) unearths a deep and profound vulnerability that isn’t just personal but also delves into the macro-level divisiveness of our current political climate, evoking sadness, rage, and confusion while still holding for glimmers of hope for the future.
With four of its five tracks, Jones selects compositions from artists who are not just unapologetically Black but also notably ones that he regards as “world builders.” From Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, and Roscoe Mitchell right up through the present with Georgia Anne Muldrow, Alchemy draws immeasurable strength from each of these artists who dared to envision and create an entire universe unto themselves, on their terms.
Check the first excerpt below.