What Place Can Be for Us?

It is rare for me to be impressed by an album to this extent...Anthony Branker's compositions are luxuriously packaged in both classical and jazz forms, blending and intermingling to the point of no longer knowing what planet we are on, except for that of an exceptional composer, in front of whom one can feel small, due to the grandeur of his work. Musical beauty in the service of thought...
Paris Move

Composer Dr. Anthony Branker presents this captivating ten-movement suite that speaks to notions of "Place" and the overarching issues of inclusion and belonging, as well as circumstances of exploitation and zones of refuge experienced by people of color and other global citizens. It is brilliantly performed by the latest edition of his group Imagine, featuring tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, trumpeter Philip Dizack, alto saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf, guitarist Pete McCann, pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist Linda May Han Oh, drummer Donald Edwards, and vocalist/spoken-word artist Alison Crockett. Branker's ensemble takes his expansive compositional vision and infuses it with passionate performances drenched with lyrical flow and ingenious rhythmic interplay.

"(Branker) illuminates the pungent individuality of each musician without compromising the prominence of his own voice..."
JAZZIZ

Click here to listen to the album

Track Listing

What Place Can Be for Us?
A Suite in Ten Movements
1. The Door of No Return 8:53
2. Sundown Town 7:21
3. I, Too, Sing America 4:04
4. Indivisible 6:04
5. We Went Where the Wind Took Us 4:47
6. What Place Can Be for Us? 8:30
7. Sunken Place 4:43
8. The Trail of Tears to Standing Rock 6:03
9. Sanctuary City 5:42
10. Placeless 5:45

Composed & arranged by Anthony Branker (J Prof Music, BMI)

---