Collection: The Cosmic Tones Research Trio
The Cosmic Tones Research Trio named themselves after a Sun Ra recording made in 1963 and released in 1967, "Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy," which is a clear statement of intent. The trio, alto saxophonist and composer Roman Norfleet, cellist and multi-instrumentalist Harlan Silverman, and pianist Kennedy Verrett, who also plays a range of wind instruments, formed in Portland, Oregon, and grounds their practice in acoustic ecology, sound meditation and "healing music." The reference points are Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and Laraaji. Their debut, "All Is Sound" (Mississippi Records, 2024), consists of six pieces without percussion, saxophone, cello, piano and flutes building spacious, unhurried soundscapes rooted in gospel and blues harmonics. The self-titled follow-up (Mississippi Records, 2025), which added percussion and expanded the compositional scope, solidified their standing in the contemporary spiritual jazz revival.
