On February 28, 2020 – a few weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut everything down – Franklin Kiermyer, Davis Whitfield, Emilio Modeste and Otto Gardner met at Scatter The Atoms’ studio in Hoboken, New Jersey to create and record extemporaneous improvisations. This is the result of that day’s work. This piece, now entitled Emancipation Suite, was recorded at once, without any predetermination. This recording has no edits, save for dividing the contiguous performance of 25:44 into side A and side B.

While nothing ever moves from equality’s expanse
Appearances shine in a wondrous magic show
So many rivers flow into the mighty sea
Where all their different waters have the same salty taste
Though many they may be, they all taste the same
In this there is no differentiation
And everything there is all throughout existence
All have the telling flavor of the natural state
How wonderful this is, this is wonderful indeed
What happiness this is, this is happiness indeed
– Shantarakshita, A Vajra Song From The Ocean

Power to the people. Freedom of the soul. Pass it on to the young and old. – Jimi Hendrix

Released February 15, 2022