Gilbert Galindo - Terrestrial Journeys (2023)

Terrestrial Journeys. What the title wryly belies is that this collection of works by Gilbert Galindo is more about the spiritual paths he has taken than the merely geographic ones. Bringing together eight landmark pieces written over a dozen years, this first album dedicated solely to his chamber music, is a multi-faceted portrait of a maturing soul.

From punk attitude, to contemplating love in various aspects, to calling for a renewal in social justice, to waiting with uncertainty, to melding oneself with God’s love, the works on this album remain true to the title. They reflect experiences and observations on the realities of life, transferring those sentiments and energies through the medium of sound. Making reference to Mexican tunes, Beethoven, a Psalm, Franciscan religious life, unrequited love, and losing direction in a metaphorical cave, the sense of quest, searching, and purpose are Galindo’s firm grounding forces in his earthly journeys to the beyond.

Coming from a Tejano (Tex-Mex) background and having been based in New York City for nearly two decades, Galindo has been said to write “richly rendered music” (Thought Catalogue) of “undeniable power” (The Kansas City Star) with an intriguing palette of colors. His love of modes, blues, classical, club, pop, Latin, and jazz music, all inform Galindo’s finely-crafted, rhapsodic, abstract lyricism. He has also long been associated with Random Access Music, a composer and performer collective in New York, which has served as a proving ground for many of the works on this album of his chamber music.

Bringing the music to abundant life on this album, recorded at Oktaven Studio and mastered by Erdem Helvacioglu, are some of the finest musicians and ensembles in the field: the Argus Quartet, bassist Gregory Chudzik, saxophonist Jeff Hudgins, Iktus Percussion, guitarist Daniel Lippel, pianist Kathleen Supové, and clarinetist Thomas Piercy.

Gilbert Galindo wears many professional musical hats, from engraver, producer, to nightclub DJ. Now, with this release showcasing his primary creative passion since childhood, we can add accomplished composer, searching pilgrim, and musical philosopher.

Special thanks to Album Sponsor, Mohammed Shaik Hussain Ali.