The shimmering reputation of saxophonist Cochemea (full name: Cochemea Gastelum) is well-established outside of his solo work, thanks to his prolific recording and touring time with his fellow Daptone greats Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Budos Band, and Antibalas. Per its title, Vol. 3: Ancestros Futuros is the Brooklyn-to-Woodstock reedsman’s third effort as a leader and is steeped in primal ancient-futurism. While channeling the essence of spiritual jazz pioneers like Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, and A Love Supreme-era John Coltrane along with the organic psychedelia of Night Tripper-period Dr. John across the album’s nine transcendent tracks, he also taps into the rich Afro-Cuban jazz continuum and his own deep indigenous Yaqui and Mescalero Apache Indian heritage. Quite a trip it is.
Cochemea serves as shepherd and guru of the swirling sounds on Ancestros Futuros, coaxing and waxing on flute, chimes, and alto and electronic sax as the spell rises around him like steamy mist. Lifted aloft by the tribal-vibing percussion of his collaborators—congas, bongos, shakers, rattles, kalimba, xylophone, tambura, and various traditional hand drums—and interwoven with hypnotic, call-and-response chants, evocatively titled pieces like “Pyramid of the Sun,” “Procession of Spirits,” and “Transmision Del Sonar” offer intoxicating, atmospheric escape from the toxic mundanity and insanity of our presently besieged Earthly world. Perfect music, then, to put on as, with summer approaching, you open the windows and allow its healing energy unfurl.
This article appears in May 2026.
