Manhattan-based artist Nevaris presents 'Ninth Sun-Live', the first offering from his new 'SoundSession' EP, a fruitful and soulful live recording that combines dub, funk, Afro-Latin rhythms, turntablism and extended improvisation. This follows his 2023 debut 'Reverberations' album, released via M.O.D. Reloaded, with the one and only Carlos Santana calling it "a work of supreme creativity”.

A live studio recording from percussionist Agustín Nevaris, and a nine-piece ensemble that includes DJ Logic, Jonathan Maron, Angel Rodriguez, Will Bernard, Peter Apfelbaum, Jojo Kuo, Lockatron and Matt Dickey, 'SoundSession' is the fourth collaboration between Nevaris, legendary bassist-producer Bill Laswell, and this lineup of musicians.

Captured in Laswell’s Orange Sound studio in West Orange, New Jersey, this EP was recorded live in a single session on May 30th, 2023. Originally planned as a streaming virtual performance, the band scrapped that idea to instead focus on the simplicity of playing live with multiple cameras documenting the process. There were no edits or overdubs to the recording, and all instruments were captured synchronously in real time. The result is 'SoundSession'.

Recorded and mixed by James Dellatacoma and mastered by Michael Fossenkember at Turtletone Studios, this recording features interpretations of music previously written by Nevaris and Bill Laswell, including specific basslines that were written by Laswell, which bassist Jonathan Maron learned and performed when Bill was unable to participate in the recording for health reasons.

"SoundSession is about playing together live without being stressed by ticket sales or a venue accommodating so many musicians. Bill Laswell's studio in West Orange, New Jersey has always been an inspiring place with so much history. (It was built for Franki Valli originally.) The live room is something magnificent. We had never used it in a way that fully took advantage of it," says Nevaris.

"So this was a chance to do so, using the full space of this sizeable room. From the first notes, we could tell there was something good happening. And the recording documents it exactly as it was, with no overdubs or edits. Every note feels right from my perspective; exactly how it happened in real time."

Agustín Nevaris is a percussionist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer, heavily influenced by Afro-Latin, dub, and funk music. From the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Nevaris also performs under the name Loud Apartment with an evolving lineup of musicians, most notably Bernie Worrell of P-Funk and Talking Heads.

"People think everything is manipulated in the studio and a lot of it is. And everybody is talking about AI now. But we are moving in the opposite direction where everything gets more organic and raw with every project we work on," says Nevaris.

"There is nothing that can compare to the beauty of artists making work in its most organic form. There's a place for technology and a place for getting back to the old school way of doing things. And that's what this recording is about. Playing live together without any click track or overdubbing, or edits of any kind. And it takes cats who can really play to pull it off. It is a joy to play with every one of the musicians involved in this process."

Inspired by the energy of growing up in New York City, Nevaris is of European and Mexican descent with multi-generational roots in both NYC and LA's Echo Park neighborhood. A visual and multimedia artist, who has worked on a vast array of creative projects across mediums, Nevaris also co-founded Nolej Records, Nolej Studios and the Uncomun Festival.

Already in the works is a second studio album that features some truly exciting special guests, which will be released via Bill Laswell's label M.O.D. Reloaded later in 2026.

As of January 7, 'Ninth Sun - Live' will be available on the 'SoundSession' EP pre-order via Bandcamp. On February 27, the full EP will be released via digital music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where the 'Reverberations' album can also be found.

CREDITS
Written by Agustín Nevaris, Bill Lasswell, DJ Logic, Peter Apfelbaum, Jojo Kuo, Will Bernard, Lockatron, Angel Rodriguez, Jonathan Maron & Matt Dickey
Agustín Nevaris - timbales, bongos, Hammond Organ
Angel Rodriguez - bata drums, shekere, congas, darbuka
Jojo Kuo - bata drums, shekere, misc. percussion
DJ Logic - turntables
Peter Apfelbaum - sax, flute, melodica, reed organ
Will Bernard - guitar
Lockatron - drumset
Matt Dickey - guitar
Jonathan Maron - bass
Produced by Agustín Nevaris
Recorded at Orange Sound in West Orange, New Jersey
Recorded & mixed by James Dellatacoma
Mastering by Michael Fossenkember at Turtletone Studios
Artwork by Realize
Artist photos by Michael Black
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

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