You might’ve caught wind of our own Michael Crockett’s retirement announcement, which means his Sunday evening program Global Grooves will grinding to a halt in just a few weeks. It’s a bittersweet end to an era, no doubt, but fortunately there are other potent purveyors of world music right here in the city limits.
Folks like Austin four-piece Atlas Maior, whose masterful melding of international influences with experimental jazz have made them one of the most truly unique acts in ATX over the last decade and a half, with a recent itinerary that speaks for itself. Hot off a month-long tour over in Morocco, Atlas Maior’s back in town and about to tear into the Deluxe Edition of last February’s EP Hadal.
Hadal Deluxe Edition marks Atlas Maior’s first physical vinyl release as a culmination of their past four years of flourishing, and they commemorate the moment tomorrow night with a two-performance live taping (8PM and 10PM, respectively) at one of the quartet’s favorite haunts, Monk’s Jazz Club. And it’s not just a matter of finally getting to hear Hadal on wax; Atlas Maior made sure to include a couple eclectic goodies in the package as well. Side B’s latter half pairs two non-Hadal remixes that both dropped in April 2021, the latter of which, “Jah Ali – Doctor Phono Remix”, exudes exactly the right kind of breezy Middle Eastern energy to keep our heads cool through what’s set to be a scorching summer.