"Rosenboom embraces the chaos on his upcoming album, Absurd in the Anthropocene." –JAZZIZ

"[A] spontaneous combustion of improvisational delights and wonders. Rosenboom, along with Kamasi Washington, leads the charge of a new pulsating jazz movement that all younger generations can relate and attach to."
–Glide Magazine

"Los Angeles jazz trumpeter Dan Rosenboom's Absurd in the Anthropocene encompasses extremes in composition and improvisation ranging from high-definition tumult to beautiful tranquility… He and his band—which sometimes expands to 10 members—play with finesse and fieriness in equal measure, executing a kind of spectacular maximalism."
–Dave Segal, The Stranger

★★★★ “It feels spontaneous, euphoric, characterful and always like the musicians are having lots of fun; together. That’s a pretty healthy response to this chaotic, dissonant modern world.”
–Ian Ward, UKVibe.org

"… everything just ‘just right’ on Absurd In The Anthropocene. The right mixture of the past and future, acoustic and electric, familiar and exotic.  Dan Rosenboom has the right influences and just as importantly, knows how to distill them.”
–S. Victor Aaron, Something! Else

“Rosenboom lays down each piece’s complex framework, within which members are able to explore and push boundaries. The result is both energetic and spacious… yet another winner from Rosenboom.”
–Mike Borella, Avant Music News

“Dan Rosenboom’s new Absurd in the Anthropocene brings the trumpeter’s fusoid compositions to a dense boil with heavy layerings of psychedelia, atmo, and sprung rhythms. Never settling for the less than the best, Rosenboom pulls out all the stops…”
–Greg Burk, MetalJazz.com

“Rosenboom is seriously skilled, and while this is apparent, he’s not forcing the fact to the front my mind, which I greatly appreciate… Instead, Rosenboom reminds me of Lee Morgan, and by extension, his compositions can recall the more accessible side of ’60s Blue Note.”
–Josef Neff, The Vinyl District

“It’s wildly inventive, improvisational music that defies easy categorization such as jazz-rock fusion, electronica, or progressive jazz. It is all of those and more… Rosenboom’s vision is as wide ranging as any… Dive in for an immersive experience. Music rarely gets more explorative than this.”
–Glide Magazine  

"In a time marked by unpredictability and absurd realities, music imbued with spontaneity and improvisation seems especially relevant. Internationally recognized trumpet player and composer-producer-entrepreneur Dan Rosenboom embraces the chaos and seeks to endow us with hope and joy along the way."
–Artists In The Spotlight

"The internationally recognized trumpet player and composer-producer-entrepreneur is in line with his abstract musicianship and virtuous experimentalism..."
–Live Music News & Review

In a time marked by unpredictability and absurd realities, music imbued with spontaneity and improvisation seems especially relevant. Internationally recognized trumpet player and composer-producer-entrepreneur Dan Rosenboom embraces the chaos and seeks to endow us with hope and joy along the way.

Absurd In The Anthropocene - out January 31, 2020 via Gearbox Records - is in line with his abstract musicianship and virtuous experimentalism but, naturally, pushes the envelope. The record’s inspirations run the gamut from Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman to Frank Zappa, Soundgarden, and Squarepusher, and its title refers to the complicated and often surreal times in which we live.

“This album is about responding to our modern world in a way that is reflectively critical yet frenetically joyous,” Rosenboom says. “Maelstrom and cognitive dissonance are everywhere, online and on the news. People cherry-pick what they want to believe and discount factual data. Inequity is rampant. In the face of such overwhelming chaos, turning toward our inner humanity is a powerful move. I want to take all that emotional fuel, and turn it into something creative, spontaneous, and beautiful.”

Rosenboom, a musician at the forefront of Los Angeles' ever-thriving creative music scene, boasts an international reputation for boundary-pushing projects and relentless productivity. A trumpet virtuoso equally at home in improvised and classical music, the prolific musician has been featured on stages and festivals all over the world, and has been described as “a phenomenon” by the Los Angeles Times.

Absurd In The Anthropocene is loaded with an absurd crew of musicians, including producer and keyboard master Jeff Babko, legendary drummers Vinnie Colaiuta, Gary Novak, and Zach Danziger, renowned bassists Jimmy Johnson, Tim Lefebvre and Jerry Watts Jr., Rosenboom’s longtime collaborator Gavin Templeton and jazz icon David Binney on saxophones, guitarists Tim Conley, Alexander Noice, and Jake Vossler, electronics wizard Troy Zeigler, and horn-playing colleagues Brian Walsh, Ryan Dragon, Juliane Gralle, and Javier Gonzalez. The record’s first session was recorded at Capitol Records with prized engineer Steve Genewick, while the second and third took place at Stella Sound Studios under the direction of revered producer, engineer, and mixer Justin Stanley.

“When I’m playing music with my compatriots, the world feels right, at least for a moment,” Rosenboom said. “It’s about returning to ‘the now.’”

Creating such an ambitious album sounds like a tall order for any musician. But given Rosenboom’s uniquely learnèd upbringing, his impressive resume, and his balance of confidence and humility, it is a vision and sound that this maverick musician has boldly realized.

“What I’m trying to express is that through intelligent thought and spiritual inquiry, there is a way forward culturally that can result in a lot of joy.”

Dan Rosenboom - trumpet/cornet/compositions
Jeff Babko - producer/keys

Saxophone:
Gavin Templeton (2-3, 5-11, Piano 4)
David Binney (7)

Bass:
Tim Lefebvre (2, 5, 6, 8)
Jerry Watts Jr. (3, 4, 9, 11)
Jimmy Johnson (7, 10)

Drums:
Zach Danziger (1, 2, 5, 6, 8)
Gary Novak (3, 4, 9, 11)
Vinnie Colaiuta (7, 10)

Guitars:
Tim Conley (2)
Alexander Noice (10)
Jake Vossler (10)

Electronics: Troy Zeigler (5)

Additional Horns (Track 7): Brian Walsh, Javier Gonzalez, Ryan Dragon, Juliane Gralle

Produced by Jeff Babko

Recorded by Justin Stanley (Stella Sound Studio, Los Angeles, CA), and Steve Genewick (Capitol Records, Los Angeles, CA)

Mixed by Justin Stanley (Stella Sound Studio, Los Angeles, CA)

Mastered by Caspar Sutton-Jones (Gearbox Records, London, UK)

Executive Producer: Darrel Sheinman

Cut to lacquer on a Haeco Scully lathe with Westrex 3DIIA Cutting Head and Westrex RA1700 Series amps, using a Studer C37 tape machine, Decca Valve Equalization, and Telefunken U73B Limiting; monitored on Audio Note equipment.

All Compositions by Daniel Rosenboom (ASCAP)
Published by Daniel Rosenboom Music (ASCAP)

"Nebulounge" and "Forget What You Know" collectively improvised by Dan Rosenboom, Gavin Templeton, Jeff Babko, Tim Lefebvre, and Zach Danziger.

Design and Photos by Eron Rauch

©&℗ 2020 Daniel Rosenboom & Gearbox Ltd.