Théo Angelopoulous

Hot on the heels of his heralded 2017 effort Promethean, the five covers and five originals on his latest Interstellar Adventures serve as rousing calling-cards for Theo Hill as he continues his steady, determined ascent into the contemporary ranks of vital and inspired jazz pianists.

Afro Physicist, trumpeter Theo Croker’s third album as a leader and his debut on Dee Dee Bridgewater’s DDB imprint and the Sony-owned OKeh brand, showcases him in a context that might be called “retro-progressive.” Many of its stylistic elements have a distinct ’70s-era flavor, but the way Croker mashes them together and then tops everything off with his straightforward but imaginative soloing marks him as an avatar of genre-defying postmodernism. “Realize,” for instance, blazes no new trails—rock/jazz/funk fusionists staked out this territory at least 35 years ago.

Brand new studio album featuring ELEW, Eric Harland, Kassa Overall and Jamaican singer Chronixx. Trumpeter, producer, arranger, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Theo Croker's Star People Nation finds him at the helm of production, songwriting, and performance, resulting in an intimate exploration of“the everyday rituals of blackness. A translation of Theo Croker's personal, spiritual and creative experience, Star People Nation is a self-reflective collection of provocative, powerfully passionate and boundary-busting compositions that speak to our greater, shared human existence. In the end, he creates a haven for creativity, spirituality, seduction and enlightenment throughout the album. “This is really supposed to inspire others to embrace themselves, their experiences and their community,” says Croker. “As world citizens, we can all be a part of Star People Nation.”