William Roper - The Scalene Triangle (2026) [Hi-Res]

The intergenerational music project The Scalene Triangle brings together three African American musicians from different eras who were raised in South Central Los Angeles: 71-year-old William Roper, who comes from a classical background, alongside 36-year-old Randal Fisher and 29-year-old Devin Daniels, both rooted in the jazz scene. All three originally crossed paths as members of the legendary Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra, founded by Horace Tapscott.

The concept took shape through a grant from NewMusicUSA. The creation of the album relied on a distinct methodology: the trio held four meetings to share personal memories of growing up in their neighborhood, discussing mentors, community figures, and local institutions that shaped their development. During these conversations, the participants sketched and wrote in notebooks. Combining these drawings, personal melodic references, and digital graphics, Roper crafted four graphic scores.

The resulting album features four compositions totaling 82 minutes, captured in the studio by engineer Wayne Peet during the ensemble's very first reading of the scores—without prior musical rehearsal or second takes. The recording is anchored in absolute spontaneity, raw sound, and the unscripted interplay of three artists differing in age and background yet united by shared roots within free jazz, avant-garde jazz, and acoustic improvisation.

Tracklist:
1-1 William Roper;Randal Fisher;Devin Daniels - All Blue [22:16]
1-2 William Roper;Randal Fisher;Devin Daniels - Benten-jima [25:56]
1-3 William Roper;Randal Fisher;Devin Daniels - Peripatetic [20:32]
1-4 William Roper;Randal Fisher;Devin Daniels - Vortex [13:20]