Christian Sands On New LP "Embracing Dawn," Future Plans & More - "Paltrocast" Exclusive

Photo byMack Avenue Records

Back in July, it was announced that GRAMMY-nominated pianist Christian Sands would be releasing his new album Embracing Dawn on September 27, 2024 via Mack Avenue Records. Embracing Dawn trails 2023’s acclaimed Christmas Stories and 2020’s Be Water, of which The New York Times said “Equipped with a crisp but forceful touch, he seems always to be flowing in new directions, integrating elements of prog rock, gospel and Western classical into a forward-tumbling jazz conception.” Embracing Dawn furthers Sands’ uniquely cultivated jazz language, where agile post-bop meets soulful bluesy tinges and gorgeous swells of strings. The album announcement comes with the first single “MMC,” which evokes acoustic jazz-rock of The Bad Plus variety.

Embracing Dawn is reportedly a “breakup record,” as composed while Sands was experiencing the hurt that only a sudden absence of love can deliver. The thoughtfully-assembled nine tracks have been described as "a group therapy session, a guide to healing," thus Embracing Dawn is arguably for everyone. Supporting the pianist on this journey are bassist Yasushi Nakamura, Sands' fiercely gifted younger brother Ryan Sands on drums, and stand-out contemporary guitarist Marvin Sewell. Also featured on select tracks of Embracing Dawn are vibraphone virtuoso Warren Wolf -- Sands’ bandmate from Christian McBride’s Inside Straight -- harmonica player Grégoire Maret.

In August 2024, I had the pleasure of speaking with Christian Sands via Zoom, as embedded above and set to air via the Long Beach, New York-based Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz television series. Beyond Embracing Dawn, we spoke about Sands' life offstage, which instruments Sands plays besides the piano, non-jazz musical influences, and Sands' philanthropy.