Invocation by DUENDE LIBRE

invoke — 1. call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration (OED)

I composed many of the songs on Invocation during the pandemic, a time characterized by profound loss, change, and uncertainty. For me, the experience of having my life upended, suddenly and unexpectedly, was a potent reminder that we humans are forever connected in our universal condition as fundamentally vulnerable creatures. Rather than a curse, our vulnerability paradoxically makes us stronger by invoking another quality that defines our shared human experience: resilience. These qualities, in turn, bind us to our ancestors, teachers, and all those who have touched our lives with the legacy they leave behind. This album seeks to acknowledge, to invoke, the spirit of my own mentors, some living and others departed, without whom I would not be the person I am today. I also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my musical peers and fellow collaborators on this album, Farko Dosumov and Jeff Busch, who brought this music to life through their tireless dedication and boundless creativity. Perhaps in invoking our ancestors’ generosity of spirit and sharing it with the world (just as they did with us), their legacy will continue to bear witness and inspire the work that lies ahead.

Duende Libre's new album Invocation builds on the band’s previous work rooted in ancestral wisdom and traditional rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, and West Africa while breaking new sonic ground to nurture vulnerability, create hope, and inspire strength in human connection. Listeners can expect the empathic chemistry and irresistible groove that have earned the band both critical acclaim and a loyal following. But this album also captures a band unafraid to take risks – the album’s title track, for example, is inspired by the great alto saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman (1930-2015), perhaps best known for revolutionizing the jazz tradition in the 1960s while simultaneously reaffirming its roots in the blues and other early African-American musical forms.

GRAMMY award-winning producer Steve Rodby, who contributed additional production to the album, says: “Duende Libre’s latest release lovingly honors tradition with true jazz spirit, finding new ways for fresh creative expression. A gift to listeners old and new, this is deeply personal music-making by master musicians, ready to be savored by the world.”

The album features core members Alex Chadsey (bandleader, composer, and keyboards), Farko Dosumov (electric bass), and Jeff Busch (drums and percussion).


Duende Libre composer and bandleader Alex Chadsey is a professional improvisational pianist with over 20 years of experience as a performer, composer, arranger, and producer. With four albums of original music and credit on a GRAMMY award-winning record, Alex has harnessed his lifelong passion for music to grow a successful international career in the music industry. Chadsey, Jeff Busch, and Farko Dosumov, all having apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of Cuban, Brazilian, and West African traditions, consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: A euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots, pushing open the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.

Of the band, PopMatters wrote, “Each member’s experiences are vital as they filter West African traditional rhythms through their own hands, voices, minds, bodies, each song as much choreography as a composition. Hopeful in sound as well as in ideological foundation, [the band creates music] full of heart and historical multitudes.”

DUENDE LIBRE celebrates the connections between jazz and music from Cuba, Brazil, and the Mediterranean. Their stewardship is a natural continuation of decades of dedicated apprenticeship with master musicians from around the world.

"Globally inspired jazz with dimension” - Pop Matters

“Powerfully alluring" - Wisconsin Public Radio

duendelibre.com
alexchadseymusic.com
open.spotify.com
Facebook
Instagram