Alden Hellmuth - Tether (2026) [Hi-Res]

In any band there is a constant push and pull. A state of tension and release between written music and improvisation, between leading and following. In the instinctive, unpredictable world of jazz, that push and pull can explode groups and compositions into entirely new forms, yet no matter how far each player might be stretched, there is always something connecting them back to each other and back to the tune. A tether.

For New York-based saxophonist and composer Alden Hellmuth, that innate sense of connection between bandmates and between the dual states of form and freedom is a crucial aspect of her creativity. Following her German Jazz Prize winning 2024 debut album 'Good Intentions', Hellmuth returns with the aptly titled 'Tether', an eight-track exploration of jazz, punk and freeform improvisation that centers on the notion that regardless of how loud and unruly her band might get, the tether always ties the players back to the listener and their invigorating experience.

All music written and produced by Alden Hellmuth.
Satellite (K) based on the original composition by John Coltrane.

All tracks performed by Alden Hellmuth (alto saxophone), Logan Kane (bass), Miller Wrenn (bass) and Justin Brown (drums).

Additional instrumentation by haana lee (sound design, effects and processing), Paul Cornish (piano), Sharada Shashidhar (voice and effects), Yakiv Tsvietinskyi (trumpet) and Caleb Buchanan (guitar and effects).

All tracks recorded by Laura Agudelo Cuartas and mixed by Eli Heath.
Mastering by Heba Kadry, assisted by Jacob Clements. Vinyl cut by Andreas Kauffelt at Schnittstelle.

Cover artwork by Trent Rivas. Photos by Sam lee. Design by Studio Torsten Posselt.