Matana Roberts

A saxophonist, composer, and a leading voice in the 21st-century avant-garde. Roberts is best known for their ambitious, ongoing 'Coin Coin' project, a multi-chapter exploration of African-American history. Their work is a form of 'panoramic sound quilting,' weaving together elements of free jazz, folk melodies, spoken word, and historical sound collage. Roberts's alto saxophone playing is known for its raw, visceral, and deeply emotional cry, used to explore themes of memory, ancestry, and social justice.