Zaccai Curtis channels the spirit of an era and the light of a new one on Sonoluminescence Vol. 1, out August 7, 2026 via TRRcollective

GRAMMY-winning pianist and composer Zaccai Curtis returns with Sonoluminescence Vol. 1, set for release on August 7, 2026 via TRRcollective. The record marks a distinct turn in Curtis’s artistic evolution which finds him evolving from the Afro-Cuban focus of his GRAMMY-winning Cubop Lives! into a wider sonic landscape, rooted in the textures and grooves of 1970s jazz and funk while pushing confidently into modern territory.
One of the hallmarks of Curtis’s compositional approach on this record is his method of placing traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythmic concepts in unexpected parts of the ensemble. Cascara and montuno figures are relocated into the bass line, freeing the piano to focus on harmony and melody and the drums to function more openly around the groove. The result is music that is rhythmically intricate beneath the surface while remaining natural and grounded on top.

Curtis performs piano, Rhodes, Yamaha keyboards, and vocals throughout the album, and in several passages plays both piano and Rhodes simultaneously. With his right hand on the piano as a melodic voice alongside the tenor saxophone and his left on the Rhodes for texture and warmth, the combination gives the record a distinctive timbral quality.

Zaccai Curtis - Piano, Rhodes, Keyboards
Craig Handy - Saxophone/ Flute
Luques Curtis - Bass
Mike Boone - Bass
Joe Dyson - Drums
Brevan Hampden - Percussion