Photo: Karl-F. Degenhardt

Saxophonist, composer and improviser Julius Gabriel is gearing up to release his fifth album, Tales from the Subterranean. Due out on March 28th through Lovers & Lollypops and Ana Ott, the upcoming record took root in 2020 during Gabriel’s confinement in Hamburg. Amidst the uncertainty and isolation of that period, he channeled those feelings into musical exploration. Meticulous finger exercises and experimentation with contact microphones led to the creation of an intricate eight-channel preamplifier which he could mount on the sax. Drawing inspiration from diverse influences, including long-time collaborator – percussionist João Pais Filipe, and the rhythms of Raggas and Indian music, Tales from the Subterranean was crafted entirely on electroacoustic tenor and twin soprano saxophones.

Gabriel is giving a glimpse of the album with its lead single ‘Footworks’, an infectious and entrancing track exploring the interplay between rhythm and melody. The track comes with a video accompaniment and you can watch it below.