Tom Varner - A New Planet (2025) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Landing
02. The New Weeds
03. Stephen Finds a Path
04. The Bursts
05. Josh and Joe Find Water
06. Unfamiliar Animals
07. A Reflective Rest
08. Kenny Finds the Sky
09. It's Getting Dark
10. Night Conversations
11. For the Many That We've Lost
12. From Chaos to Temple Guardian
13. Joe Moves Us Forward
14. Brass Medicine
15. Have We Arrived?
16. Elegy for a Lost Brother

It is always interesting when the passage of a few months can change the meaning of a particular artistic project. In October 2024, I traveled to the east coast on a “sabbatical trip” to record a series of new works. My idea for this project was to have an improvising brass quartet record with the great guitar improviser Joe Morris. Joining me were three top brass improvisers: Stephen Haynes, cornet and flugelhorn, Kenny Warren, trumpet, and Josh Roseman, trombone. I planned for a series of different settings for Joe and the brass players, featuring both solo and ensemble work. It was a beautiful day of playing and catching up. I’d known Joe since the late 70s, Stephen since the 80s, Josh since the 90s, and I met Kenny on the recording day (big thanks to Stephen for wisely suggesting Kenny).

October 2024 was a hopeful time. At this writing in late August 2025, of course there is a very different feeling in the air. It just feels like we are on “A New Planet.” Will this new planet be a fascist hate-filled planet? We’ll all have to do whatever we can to not let it stay that way.

Another take on “A New Planet” is that I believe this is the first time Joe, Stephen, Josh and Kenny have recorded an “only four brass plus guitar” project. That sound world is a new planet itself. The beautiful sounds created here give me hope. Joe’s guitar, panned right in the middle, acts as an observer interacting with a shifting new landscape, the landscape created by the brass. I can’t thank these great players enough. Near the recording day’s end, I shared that I had recently lost my younger brother. They suggested that we do a piece for my brother Rob, and that became track 16. It ended up being a beautiful and healing moment, closing up the session.