Aaron Shaw - And So It Is

Aaron Shaw, And So It Is: Blowing When the Air Runs Out

There are musicians who simply traverse the cosmic paths of jazz without truly anchoring themselves within it. Young jazz musicians seeking to walk the same spiritual roads as Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, and others have become commonplace in today's artistic landscape. Far rarer are those who approach this quest with the delicate touch that Aaron Shaw displays. This Californian multi-instrumentalist thus transforms his physical fragility into a formidable creative force within the experimental jazz scene of Los Angeles.

Heart of a Phoenix: The Mantra of Resilience

The album is titled "And So It Is," an expression that has become a mantra during this creative period marked by a difficult medical diagnosis for the artist. Heart Of A Phoenix immediately crystallizes this theme of resilience in the face of adversity. The eponymous track, though not specified as such in the technical notes, visually and musically embodies the artist's ability to rebuild. Instrumental versatility is at the heart of the project. In Heart Of A Phoenix, Aaron Shaw takes up the Alto Flute and Tenor Saxophone to record his own passages. He integrates contributions from basses played by Lawrence Shaw, a cello entrusted to Kiernan Wegler, harps assured by Merci B, and percussion signed Carlos Niño. The presence of Sam Reid at the piano adds a rich harmonic layer, while Dwight Trible's voice offers a human counterpoint. This live orchestration proves that the authenticity of the performance takes precedence over a heavy studio approach.

Windows to the Soul: Where Live Performance Takes Precedence Over the Studio

When examining Windows To The Soul, it becomes clearer why the production favors the noble imperfection of live performance. Here, Sam Reid and Jesse Peterson take the reins at the piano, while Aaron Shaw returns with his tenor saxophone to ground the track in controlled melancholy. It is an exercise in precision where each instrumentalist contributes without blurring their own sonic identity. The album also opens with Soul Journey and The Path To Clarity, two tracks that highlight Shaw's technical mastery on bass clarinet and alto flute. On these cuts, he is accompanied by Lawrence Shaw on bass and Kiernan Wegler on cello, creating a dense texture where strings and winds intertwine naturally. It is this sonic architecture built around the performance that validates the artist's creative approach.

Inner Compass: Articulating the Unarticulated in Sonic Architecture

Beyond the standout tracks, it's the entire philosophy of the album that attempts to articulate the inarticulable when words fail. The production seems to favor an approach where instruments are recorded by their own performers: Aaron Shaw on his winds and clarinets, Nate Mercereau on his guitars and sound effects, Carlos Niño on his percussion and drums. This division of roles ensures that each instrumental voice retains its own timbre. Aaron Shaw's trajectory is that of a dynamic figure who has collaborated with Kamasi Washington, Carlos Niño, and the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra prior to this radical introspection. And So It Is represents a musical response to the fragility of the body and an exploration of internal themes. The album's track, "And So It Is," became a mantra during this creative period. The release of this album on February 13, 2026, via Leaving Records marks the advent of a first project where vulnerability is not a handicap but the raw material of a major creation.