Wadada Leo Smith - Constellations And Hemispheres (2026)

Legendary American trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith returns with Constellations and Hemispheres, released on Burning Ambulance Music. Crafted from multiple studio sessions and shaped by contemporary production techniques, the album showcases a stellar lineup of improvisers spanning generations, including pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, drummers Marcus Gilmore and Pheeroan AkLaff, vibraphonist Bobby Naughton, bassists Bill Laswell and Melvin Gibbs, percussionists Brian Jarawa Gray and Mauro Refosco, and guitarist Lamar Smith.

Ranging from intense avant-garde exchanges to massive octet arrangements, pieces like "Dark Energy," "Lake Tanganyika," and "Meditation on Love" blend rigorous structure with fearless exploration. The resulting record stands as a profound, uncompromising statement that navigates historical resonance, complex polyrhythms, and spiritual depth within modern avant-garde jazz.

Wadada Leo Smith - trumpet
with
Sylvie Courvoisier - piano (tracks 1 & 3)
Marcus Gilmore - drums (tracks 1 & 3)
Bobby Naughton - vibraphone (tracks 2-5)
Lamar Smith - electric guitar (tracks 2, 3 & 5)
Bill Laswell - electric bass (tracks 3 & 4)
Melvin Gibbs - electric bass (tracks 3 & 4)
Mauro Refosco - percussion (tracks 2, 3 & 5)
Brian Jawara Gray - percussion (tracks 2, 3 & 5)
Pheeroan akLaff - drums (tracks 2-5)

Tracklist:
1. Wadada Leo Smith - Dark Energy
2. Wadada Leo Smith - Lake Tanganyika
3. Wadada Leo Smith - Dark Matter, Particles of Light, Mirror of the Unseen
4. Wadada Leo Smith - Deep Canyons On Mars
5. Wadada Leo Smith - Meditation On Love