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ARTIST
TITLE
A Portal to Here
FORMAT
CD

LABEL
CATALOG #
ATA 044CD ATA 044CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
2/13/2026

ATA Records present the new release by Work Money Death, A Portal to Here. This album continues WMD's exploration of spiritual jazz and the sounds and styles that evolved out of the '60s New Thing, particularly the recordings of Alice Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders. The first WMD album released since the tragic death of ATA guitarist Chris Earl Dawkins in early 2025, all four tracks reference the journey that band members and the studio have been on -- in many ways this record is a testament and tribute to Chris, his musicality and creativity. Featuring WMD stalwarts Tony Burkill, Neil Innes, Sam Hobbs, and Sam Bell, the album introduces Sorcerers keyboardist Johnny Richards to the WMD sound. Richards brings a fresh new take to the piano role here, drawing on what is clearly a broad knowledge of jazz history and channeling that through his own unique 21st century musical perspective. The album also features contributions from Alice Roberts on harp, bringing the spirit of Alice Coltrane, Ben Powling on baritone saxophone, Richard Ormrod on woodwind, and Kev Holbrough and Steve Parry on brass. Those Sun Ra-esque horn sections lift the mood whenever they appear. Standout tracks are the second, "Dance of the Spirits," with a strong core of "Baptism and The Blues" and some lovely playing by Richards, and the third track, "Brother Earl," which begins with Tony on flute over rhythms that are directly reminiscent of open-hearted, late-'60s spirituality. A Portal to Here is a stunning addition to the WMD catalogue and a clear statement that the band continues to create and produce, whatever life throws its way.