Chicago-based label International Anthem has announced Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at TreePeople, the first collaborative album from acclaimed poet and vocalist Saul Williams and renowned percussionist and producer Carlos Niño. The album, scheduled for release on August 28, 2025, is now available for pre-order (LP, CD, and digital). The lead single, the atmospheric and searching “Sound then Words,” has been released today across all digital platforms.
This unique project captures a fully improvised performance recorded live on December 18, 2024, in the outdoor setting of Coldwater Canyon Park, Los Angeles. Hosted by Noah Klein’s Living Earth organisation on the grounds of the environmental non-profit TreePeople, the concert took place under a canopy of black oak and walnut trees, providing a powerful natural backdrop to the music.
For this one-of-a-kind event, Niño, a central figure in the city’s vibrant spiritual jazz scene, assembled and guided a remarkable ensemble of “Friends.” The lineup featured frequent collaborators such as Nate Mercereau on guitar synthesizer and live sampling, creating architectural soundscapes in real-time. The formidable Kamasi Washington on tenor sax and the versatile Aaron Shaw on tenor saxophone and flute, while Andres Renteria contributed a rich tapestry of percussion. This sonic ecosystem was completed by the ethereal contributions of Maia on flute and vibraphone and Francesca Heart on computer and sound design.
The performance saw Williams’s potent spoken-word poetry weaving through the intricate, electro-acoustic improvisations of the ensemble. A highlight of the set was a stirring reflection by Williams on colonialism and a call for the end of empire, which built to an epic crescendo. Following this powerful moment, poet aja monet took the stage, delivering a poignant, soft-apocalyptic piece titled “The Water Is Rising.” Williams then closed the ceremony with a hopeful parable, a testament to humanity’s resilience.
In support of the album, Saul Williams and Carlos Niño & Friends have announced upcoming performances in the US, UK, and EU, including a date at London’s Village Underground on November 6, 2025, as part of the Pitchfork Music Festival.
Pre-Order the album: https://international-anthem.lnk.to/SaulWilliamsmeetsCarlosNinoFriendsatTreepeople
UPCOMING SHOWS
Saturday September 27th – Walk The Block Festival – Seattle WA
Tuesday September 30th – Yoshi’s (night 1) – Oakland CA
Wednesday October 1st – Yoshi’s (night 2) – Oakland CA
Thursday October 2nd – TreePeople (night 1) – Los Angeles CA
Saturday October 4th – TreePeople (night 2) – Los Angeles CA
Monday October 13th – City Winery (night 1) – Atlanta GA
Tuesday October 14th – City Winery (night 2) – Atlanta GA
Wednesday October 15th – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte NC
Thursday October 16th – Black Cat – Washington DC
Friday October 17th – City Winery – Philadelphia PA
Sunday October 19th – Sultan Room – Brooklyn NY
Thursday November 6th – Pitchfork Festival – London UK
Saturday November 15th – Le Guess Who? Festival – Utrecht NL
