International Anthem / Worldwide / 2025
Yowzers is the latest genre-defying album by Ben LaMar Gay, a Chicago composer, instrumentalist, and folklorist known for blending history, rhythm, and radical improvisation. With twelve tracks that channel ancestral grooves, melodic storytelling, and modern experimentalism, Yowzers marks a major evolution in Gay’s already wide-ranging discography.
The album features his core quartet—Tommaso Moretti (drums), Matthew Davis (tuba/piano), and Will Faber (guitar)—recorded largely live in the studio to capture their deep musical chemistry. Across the record, Gay weaves family-rooted melodies, folk traditions, and polyrhythmic textures into a tapestry that feels both rooted and futuristic. His music embraces repetition, intuition, and communal expression, often blurring the lines between composition and improvisation.
Standout tracks include:
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“Yowzers” – a gospel-blues mantra about environmental and existential crisis.
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“For Breezy” – a mournful, Ellington-esque tribute rich in synth, flute, and flugelhorn.
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“John, John Henry” – a modern reimagining of the folk legend, infused with pulsing electronics and choral vocals.
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“I am (bells)” and “the glorification of small victories” – examples of the quartet’s dynamic range and creative power.
While grounded in African-American musical traditions—blues, spirituals, jazz—Yowzers also draws inspiration from artists like Liberation Music Orchestra, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Naná Vasconcelos, fusing these influences into a fluid, shape-shifting Americana that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant.
The album closes with “leave some for you”, a gentle, loop-driven ballad that feels like a hopeful beginning more than an end.
In essence, Yowzers is a celebration of musical storytelling, cultural memory, and intuitive collaboration, filtered through Ben LaMar Gay’s singular vision—restlessly inventive, yet grounded in community and legacy.