Today, International Anthem releases Constitution, the new album from Cape Town, South Africa based drummer, composer, and bandleader Asher Gamedze. Featuring Gamedze’s new 10-piece ensemble The Black Lungs, in the 81-minute album, dynamic avant jazz arrangements and the expansive explorations of the musicians are animated and deepened by word-fragments and samples of poems written and recited by renowned scholar and inhabitant of the undercommons, Fred Moten. Purchase Constitution here, and find the album on all streaming platforms September 12.

Recorded in one day at Cape Town’s Sound and Motion Studios, Constitution is Gamedze’s follow-up to Turbulence and Pulse, which was co-released in 2023 by International Anthem and the Johannesburg-based Mushroom Hour Half Hour.

Along with the album’s LP, CD, and Digital Download release today, focus track “High Land. New Home” comes as a swinging instrumental affair firmly in the tradition of classic 1960s South African jazz. Divergent and joyous horns walk the path forged by Mankunku Ngozi, yes, but imagine Ngozi’s classic quartet multiplied by 2.5. It’s a natural expansion of the large ensemble sound. Ellington via Mingus via the Arkestra, cut from the same driving, percussive cloth as Cecil McBee’s late-70s sextet records with Chico Freeman. Stream “High Land. New Home” here.

“Members of the dispossessed, won’t you lend me your ears!” This is the repeated call and the rallying chorus of the nearly 40-minute title track / centerpiece of Constitution. On the expansive double album, Gamedze holds down duties on the drum kit, joining with Ru Slayen (percussion), Sean Sanby (bass), and Nobuhle Ashanti (piano) breathing together to cohere in what would otherwise be called a rhythm section. The ensemble is expanded by more breath, horns and voices – Tumi Pheko (cornet), Garth Erasmus (alto saxophone), Jed Petersen (tenor saxophone), Tina Mene (vocals), Athi Ngcaba (trombone) and Fred Moten (words) as they collectively explore and deconstruct the conceptual, tonal and atonal possibilities of themes which are at once of old and new dreams.

Further situating the sound and the impulse of the ensemble within the multitudinous terrains of the historical and ongoing struggles of the dispossessed, Gamedze explains that “The Black Lungs is inspired by the revolutionary thought and practice of the Black Consciousness Movement. In particular, the relationship between antagonism – constituting a united front of all the oppressed against white supremacy and racial capitalism – and the possibilities for resistance and elaboration – the creative militant capacities of those assembled – enabled and unleashed by that process of constitution.”