James Gordon Williams - Falling to Rise Again (2026)

James Gordon Williams is a pianist, composer, and cultural theorist whose work dissolves the boundaries between musical performance and academic engagement with sound as a form of social critique. His new album, Falling to Rise, brought together co-producer and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, guitarist Matthew Stevens, multi-instrumentalist Morgan Guerin, and percussionist Danny Sadownick — a lineup reflecting Williams's affinity for dense, dialogic contemporary jazz textures.

Alongside his solo work, he maintains an active practice at the intersection of genres and disciplines. With Moor Mother, he released the experimental project "The Worldmaking Aura of Sonic Blackness," and he is currently involved in the blues opera Longing to Tell, created by Akua Naru and Tyshawn Sorey in collaboration with Ensemble Resonanz, based on the book by Tricia Rose.

His roster of musical collaborators is remarkably broad — from Anthony Davis and Gregory Porter to Mark Dresser and Charli Persip — and his performances have spanned major venues and festivals across the United States and Europe. Beyond music, Williams routinely pushes past the boundaries of sound: his collaborations with visual artist Maria Gaspar, poet Fred Moten, and other figures in visual and literary art turn sound into a tool for social and cultural analysis.

This dual identity — musician and scholar — carries through into his written work as well. Williams authored the book Crossing Bar Lines: The Politics and Practices of Black Musical Space and has published articles in leading academic journals on jazz and African American culture, including his recent essay "Principle of Alloys," on his collaboration with Maria Gaspar.

Tracklist:
1-1 James Gordon Williams - Yemoja (Water Spirit Meditation) [5:01]
1-2 James Gordon Williams - Prayer [5:38]
1-3 James Gordon Williams - Cuse Cue Blues [5:58]
1-4 James Gordon Williams - Falling to Rise Again [5:06]
1-5 James Gordon Williams - Turning the Tide [7:15]
1-6 James Gordon Williams - Incurable Romantic [6:29]
1-7 James Gordon Williams - Philadelphia Morning [5:32]
1-8 James Gordon Williams - Sebastian [2:55]