Astral Long Form: Staircase in Space

Drummer-percussionist Whit Dickey channels ecstatic cosmic vibration together with a stellar quartet on 'Astral Long Form: Staircase in Space', his enrapturing second album as a leader for TAO Forms, the album also features alto saxophonist Rob Brown, violist Mat Maneri and bassist Brandon Lopez.

"The interaction between players is perfect. Entrances, exits, the space between sound and silence, all meeting at the right moment. This is great human music that will stand up to any dark forces in any universe." - William Parker, in his liner notes for this album.

Since his launch of the TAO Forms label in May 2020, Whit Dickey has curated a remarkable series of releases showcasing some of the most astonishing artists in modern jazz & creative music. Among them was James Brandon Lewis' Jesup Wagon which topped several year-end 'Best of 2021' lists, including #1 in JazzTimes Critics' Poll and the coveted top spot in the 2021 Jazz Critics Poll established by Francis Davis in 2006. Other releases include Matthew Shipp's mesmerizing solo outings The Piano Equation and Codebreaker; Now Then, a vital document from master drummer-percussionist Tani Tabbal; Garden of Jewels, a resonant standout among the prolific catalogue of saxophonist Ivo Perelman; and Village Mothership, a thrilling addition to the vital trio work of Shipp with Dickey and the immortal William Parker.