Mode for Titan proves that the bass is a melodic and ambient force in its own right. Writing on — and exclusively for — the bass, Josh Werner explores new dimensions of composition and improvisation, effortlessly moving through varying sonic textures, all without a conventional rhythm section. Producer Bill Laswell helps steer seasoned composer and performer (and abstract painter) Werner through novel instrumental territory, including the sitar bass, seven-string bass and fretless bass. The wide array of influences on Mode for Titan reflects Werner's vast experience and diverse skill set, yet the music maintains an introspective focus and understated minimalist beauty. Laswell's production endows this sonic journey with a vast sense of space, painted in an array of colors as boundless as the producer's own palette.Werner's work with Ghostface Killah, CocoRosie, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Cibo Matto, PopCaan, James Brandon Lewis, Matisyahu and Tunde Adebimpe has cemented this musician, producer and songwriter's status as a low-end heavyweight.

Buy / listen: Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music

Credits

Recorded and mixed at Orange Music

Engineered by James Dellatacoma

Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at TurtleTone Studios

Artist photo by Bianca Casady

Artwork by Josh Werner

Cover design by Yoko Yamabe at Randesign

M.O.D. Reloaded are Dave Brunelle, Yoko Yamabe

M.O.D. Reloaded © 2021

Brooklyn-based bassist and visual artist Josh Werner was awarded an artist in residence from The Cell Gallery located in New York, NY. As a part of this residency which occurred in the month of July 2020, Josh presented various works in different mediums from visual art to music. In lieu of the 2020 pandemic Josh was unable to present music to a live audience and instead offered a pre-recorded live performance to be aired at a later date.

Werner was able to put together an ensemble of some of the leading improvisors on the New York City scene in that of James Brandon Lewis, Ches Smith and Patrick Holmes. One of the leading jazz pioneers Ornette Coleman once expressed himself by saying, "You know more, but I feel more". During these turbulent times this statement resonates with this ensemble; it's one that embodies the acknowledgement of feelings within your being to then pour into the music being presented.

This ensemble draws from preceding generations of musicians including Don Cherry, Roy Ayers, John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler, Tribe Called Quest and the energy of the downtown art rock movement.

Buy / listen: Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music

Credits

James Brandon Lewis – saxophone

Patrick Holmes – clarinet

Ches Smith – drums

Josh Werner – bass

Produced by Josh Werner and James Brandon Lewis

Recorded by Ricardo Romaneiro at The Cell Theater

Mixed by Daniel Schlett at Strange Weather

Mastered by Loius Henry Sermiento II at Sonic Vista Studios

Vinyl cut by Jukka Sarapää at Timmion Cutting

Jacket design by Ilja Tulit

Jacket artwork by Josh Werner

Released and distributed by RR Gems Records © 2021

Apple Cores is the latest full-length album from New York tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, “one of the fiercest sounds in jazz today” (The Guardian) with a “penchant for unbound exploration” (Pitchfork). Informed by the rhythms and textures of hip-hop and funk while remaining rooted in jazz, James Brandon Lewis Trio’s Apple Cores was recorded with Chad Taylor (drums/mbira) and Josh Werner (bass/guitar). The recording was a collective compositional process that happened over the course of two intense, entirely improvised sessions.

Buy / listen:

Bandcamp/ Spotify / Apple Music

Credits

Produced by James Brandon Lewis and Josh Werner

All songs written by Chad Edward Taylor, James Brandon Lewis, and Josh David Werner. Except ‘Broken Shadows’ written by Ornette Coleman

All tracks recorded and engineered by James Dellatacoma at Orange Sound

All tracks mixed by Daniel Schlett at the Outlier Inn and Soundwork International

Mastered by Paul Wycliffe, Skyline Productions INC

Cover painting by Travis Vasquez

Guilherme Monteiro: guitar on tracks 4, 6, 8, and 11. Recorded by Josh Druckman at the Outlier Inn

Stephane San Juan: percussion on tracks 4, 6, 8, and 11. Recorded by Jake Owen

Josh Werner (Matisyahu, Popcaan, Cibo Matto) brings a concept of Sci fi Dub Noir, performing visions of dub, hip hop and free jazz, with production and compositions directly from a lineage of futuristic collisionist thought. As Bass Player magazine (March 2014) said,“ Josh Werner has re-emerged with a project that spotlights his masterful dub playing.”

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Takuya Nakamura (Geroge Russell, Arto Lindsey, Cocorosie, Quincy Jones) blends a new brand of Jazz, lo-fi analog and Hi-fi Digital space techno to his style of composition and production. His ethereal trumpet playing establishing a cinematic landscape of sound which evokes futuristic expressionistic moods throughout…

Dub specialist/beat maker Marihito Ayabe (Dub Nomads, Chimp Beams, and Shing02) offers a blend of hip hop and reggae programming with Atmoshperic Sound Design.

Album purchase includes Bill Laswell's Dub Mix of Strange Dream

Buy / listen: Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music

Credits

Produced by Josh Werner and Takuya Nakamura

Tracks 1,4 & 5 recorded at BPM Studios
Tracks 9 & 10 recorded at Orange Music Sound Studios
Engineered by Yoshio Kobayashi and Takuya Nakamura
Tracks 9 & 10 engineered by James Dellatacoma

Mixed by Hideyuki Waki (ConcentNY)
Mix Translation by Bill Laswell
Mix engineer: Robert Musso
Second: James Dellatacoma

Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtle Tone Studios, NYC
Design by John Brown @ Cloud Chamber
Support: Dave Brunelle

released June 17, 2014 on MOD Technologies