Fans of spiritual jazz will be ticking off the days in the calendar up to the release of Closer to the Sun, new from drummer Franklin Kiermyer.

Co-produced by legendary producer Michael Cuscuna who explains more about the project above we’re firmly in Rashied Ali territory from a rhythm perspective and the late period of John Coltrane more generally. But as Cuscuna says in promo blurb: “Franklin went beyond his influences. He found his own way to play drums–his own time concept–his own way of organising a performance. The music always swings in its own way, on its own terms.”

Grounded in Tibetan Buddhism and intense study Kiermyer has several albums out since 1999 his reputation gradually building, but hopefully this fine new album will lift this excellent player into a new domain. Recorded the old fashioned way in one room, without headphones, and mixed with minimal EQ and compression and not relying on overdubs or edits it’s a quartet affair with the drummer joined by tenorist Lawrence Clark, pianist Davis Whitfield and bassist Otto Gardner. Enjoy!