Samadha’s legacy comes alive

Samadha was founded circa 1999 of equal parts Atlanta’s free jazz scene, the electro-organic sounds of Prefuse 73, and the eclectic ingenuity of composer, pianist, and founding member Chris Case. The group emerged from the kiln of Atlanta’s musical creativity, finding its way through the fire, and finally settling into solid form. “At the start we were pretty much a free jazz band that began implementing some composition and thematic elements,” Case says. “I wanted to make big soundscapes where the instruments could soar and bend into unexpected places.”

Over the years, Samadha has indeed moved into epic new territory. While the group endured decades of change in the Atlanta music scene, including shifts within its own ranks, Samadha is finally releasing its first proper album this month, titled Root System. In the early aughts, then Atlanta-based DJ and producer Scott Herren of Prefuse 73 produced a Samadha Trio EP for Chicago-based Hefty Records’ Immediate Action 12-inch series. Immediate Action #5 includes enchanting “Amidha,” which also appears on the 2002 Hefty/Wire magazine compilation CD, Sample This. However, this short document reflects a decidedly different period in the group’s history. “Scott’s production style yielded some incredible results, and I still love those tracks today,” Case says. “But the heavy production and electronic elements were polarizing to the more jazz purist members in the group, and a promising start quickly turned into a ‘breakup’ of sorts.”

After years of recording solo in the mid-to-late 2000s, Case reformed Samadha in 2008, welcoming Amit Gokhale (bass) and Greg Perry (drums) aboard along with Ben Davis (horns) and David Springer (guitar) for live shows. When the group began playing again, “the emphasis was heavy on the performance,” Case says. “We did record several times but always struggled to find a balance between recording the organic instruments and blending that with the electronics that to me were an equal part of the equation.”

Case found a producer who was willing to undertake the challenge in Ben Price at Studilaroche. The fruits of their labor and partnership shine throughout Root System, which finds the group joined by Eric Fontaine on saxophone and Matt Jarrard on cello. Root System’s opening number, “The Deepness,” flows like a smooth but unpredictable tributary spilling into a river. Strings and electric piano trickle into a magical jam leading to the wonderfully chilling “Dropout,” with its euphoric guitar and piano harmonies and effects. The trippy dream that is “Onset” lays the groundwork for the sci-fi anthem-cum-nu jazz number “Concent.”

Highlighted by a progressive bass line, active drumming, and some guitar riffing, “Return to Saturn” showcases the meticulous timing and rapport the musicians have with each other. “Pulse” displays shades of the Style Council, while the indescribable final two tunes, “Face Off” and “Valence Quotient,” combine tight rhythms, sweeping strings, and elements of Krautrock, soul jazz, math rock, and ’80s TV dream sequence soundtracks.

With Root System, Samadha has crafted an inspired audio document, filled with wonder and rich in emotion; one that grows on listeners with each play and continues growing long after the CD has come to an end.