In A Mellow Tone
Wednesday April 8th, 2026 with Heavy Ben
Devin Brahja Waldman

What time is it? It's time for a dive deep into the spiritual, rhythmic, and unhinged world of Devin Brahja Waldman. Brahja is a polymath (sax, drums, synth wizard) who has spent the last 15 years carving a path through what he calls "spiritual purification" through sound. Devin is based in New York City, but his musical DNA is arguably "Half-Canadian": - Devin attended music school in Montreal, where he met the members of his ensemble BRAHJA - The 2019 self-titled album was recorded in a de-sanctified church in rural Quebec where a 10-piece collective performed during a spring thaw - He is a key fixture in the Land of Kush, the experimental big band led by Montreal's Sam Shalabi - Brahja has shared stages with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, High Alpine Hut Network - Most of the recordings on tonight's program were recorded in Canada: Hotel2Tango by Thierry Amar in Montreal, Threshold Studios in Hamilton, etc. - Waldman often performs at key Canadian venues such as The Music Gallery in Toronto and La Sala Rossa in Montreal - Montreal-born jazz pianist Paul Bley mentored Waldman in his youth Devin Brahja Waldman is a versatile New York-based saxophonist, drummer, synthesizer player, and composer known for his eclectic musical endeavors. Leading the group BRAHJA, Waldman has also co-founded the experimental bands Radical Reversal, Diva of Deva Loka, and Notable Deaths. His diverse career includes collaborations with a wide range of artists, such as Patti Smith, William Parker, Malcolm Mooney, and Yoshiko Chuma, among others. Waldman’s deep connection to avant-garde music began at a young age, when he was mentored by jazz legend Paul Bley. In addition to his performance work, Waldman is a member of Heroes Are Gang Leaders and Sam Shalabi’s Land of Kush, and is part of the Norwegian hardcore group MoE. As a co-producer of Fast Speaking Music, a label he runs with his aunt, poet Anne Waldman, and cousin Ambrose Bye, Waldman has helped release recordings by notable figures like Amiri Baraka, Laurie Anderson, and William Parker. (bio from https://www.artsforart.org/devin-brahja-waldman/) https://www.brahjawaldman.com/ https://brahjawaldman.bandcamp.com/music https://www.jazzrightnow.com/interview-devin-brahja-waldman/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Waldman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Speaking_Music https://www.furious.com/perfect/annewaldman.html (to embiggen the show icon, right-click and choose "Open image in new tab")