Cochemea

Cochemea Gastelum is a master saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist whose work represents a vital intersection of New York's soul-revival scene and indigenous musical traditions. A longtime member of the Daptone Records stable, he spent years as a key collaborator for Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Antibalas before pivoting to a solo career that explores his Yaqui and Mescalero Apache ancestry.

His sound identity is defined by a 'spiritual jazz' framework that replaces standard swing with indigenous polyrhythms and replaces urban grit with desert-inspired textures. Critically, he is recognized for expanding the vocabulary of modern jazz by integrating Native American vocal traditions and rhythmic structures without falling into 'world music' clichés. His work is part of a broader movement of contemporary spiritual jazz alongside artists like Kamasi Washington, but with a distinct focus on ancestral memory and the specific geography of the American West. His albums are often recorded using analog equipment to preserve a raw, organic warmth that emphasizes the physical nature of the instruments.