María Kim Grand is a young Swiss-born (child of a Swiss mother and an Argentinian father), New York-based sax player, composer, visual artist, and educator (and a relationship consultant).
Both Sides is Grand’s fourth album as a bandleader and composer, aptly divided into two sides: the first six pieces on the first side are mostly performed with Grand’s working quartet, comprised of double bass player Rashaan Carter, percussionist Shakoor Hakeem, drummer Miguel Russell, and Grand on tenor and soprano saxes and vocals; The second side offers the same pieces in «audio liner notes» versions, poems about the music narrated by spoken word vocal artist Jasmine Wilson, alongside pianist Angelica Sanche and Grand. The album also features guests, including guitarist Emmanuel Michael, vocalist Miriam Elhaji, and alto sax player Immanuel Wilkins.
Grand, whose former partner is sound healer Pedro De Las Rosas, says that Both Sides reflects her interest in «healing divides, whether political or personal. I’m especially fascinated with the line we constantly walk between individual autonomy and belonging to a group. So I tried to speak to both sides: the one that wants to be me, and the one that wants to be us. These sides are universal; every human being walks the line between fusion and individuation».
Both sides attempts to reconcile the dichotomies we experience throughout life, and suggest music as a healing solution. Grand sees these dicotomies – family vs. professional engagement, her therapeutic work (helping musicians overcome emotional blocks) vs. touring, and femininity vs. masculinity- as one and the same, which appear in different contexts.
Grand’s Both Sides offers a sensual, inclusive music for such dicotomies, reflecting her own varied experiences and interests. «Jump Love Jump» was dedicated to Grand’s «Dear Friend». «Ayaruna» is a cover of Venezuelan composer, producer of Medicine Music, and ecological activist, Jesús Hidalgo. «Guerrero Hundido» (Sunken Warrior) is described as a piece about «the strength it takes to create gentle boundaries». «Rocío y Río» (Dew and River) is dedicated to Grand’s son, with Grand singing the lyrics in Spanish. «Talk on the Hill» was written for children who suffer from autism and apraxia, or the inability to speak. «Very End of Beauty» was inspired by pianist and composer Kris Davis and is dedicated to «all mothers».
The pieces are performed in a thoughtful, playful manner with Grand’s working quartet. But the real magic happens in the «audio liner notes» versions when these pieces are liberated from their formalized structures and enjoy an intimate, deeply poetic interplay of Grand and Sanchez as well as the insightful spoken words of Jasmine Wilson. These beautiful versions stress the healing qualities of such spiritual music.
Eyal Hareuveni
María Grand (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, voice), Rashaan Carter (double bass), Shakoor Hakeem (percussion), Miguel Russell (drums), Emmanuel Michael (guitar), Miriam Elhajli (voice (track), Jasmine Wilson (voice), Angelica Sanchez (piano), Immanuel Wilkins (alto saxophone)
