Upcoming debut album...

FROTAE, “For Reasons of Tone and Economy”, acts as composer Liberté Anne’s musical incubator for large ensemble works, which are performed by the composers’ longstanding group, the Liberté Big Band. FROTAE contains at most 5 players, and usually saxophones.

FROTAE’s music is designed to transmit the physical and auditory sensations readily created by the saxophone, in hopes to create a visceral response from the listener. This is a totally acoustic

experience in close proximity to the audience. The group’s working repertoire, entitled «FROTAE: Vol. 1», contains jazz language, reflective drones, textural harmony, meditative ostinatos, and collective improvisation inspired and structurally informed by afro-cuban Batà drumming techniques. «FROTAE: Vol. 2» was developed over the course of 2024 and early 2025, initially at a creative residency at Orford Music and culminating in an album recording at Studio Oboro in March 2025. This album will be the first official release by the artist and the group and is set for 2026.

Personnel: Geneviève Gauthier (alto), René Zeledon (tenor), Allison Burik (baritone), Philippe Lauzier (alto, soprano), Naomi McCaroll-Butler (tenor, glissotar)