Alpenphunk25: Cochemea & Friends

Cochemea Gastelum is a saxophonist, composer, and arranger known for merging his Yaqui/Yoeme indigenous heritage with his extensive experience in soul, funk, and jazz. His 2019 Daptone debut, All My Relations, explores the interconnectedness of all things, blending ancestral rhythms with the musical techniques he honed while performing with top artists like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Amy Winehouse, and Antibalas. The album, described as “equal parts spiritual journey and irrepressible funk” by Pitchfork, brings together a nine-piece ensemble to create a rich, contemplative, and rhythmically complex sound that’s rooted in his cultural and musical lineage. His 2021 follow-up, Vol II: Baca Sewa, continues this journey, drawing on personal family history, ancestral stories, and cultural memory. The album’s title references his original family name before colonization and includes tributes to family members, such as “Chito’s Song” and “Curandera.”

Cochemea’s expressive, dexterous style is shaped by influences like Yusef Lateef and Gary Bartz, and he has developed his own unique sound on the flute and electric alto saxophone. Over the past 25 years, he has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists, including Jon Batiste, Mark Ronson, The Roots, David Byrne, and Run The Jewels, where he is featured on their critically acclaimed album RTJ4. His work continues to reflect a deep reverence for the music and traditions of his ancestors while pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz and funk, making him a vital and innovative voice in modern music.