Los Angeles saxophonist Aaron Shaw releases his debut album And So It Is on 13 February, following a bone marrow failure diagnosis in 2023. The woodwind player, who taught André 3000 music theory, had been experiencing increasing breathlessness before being diagnosed at age 27 with the condition, which reduces red blood cell production.
Shaw studied with Kamasi Washington, worked with Herbie Hancock and Anderson .Paak, and regularly collaborates with LA bandleader Carlos Niño, who produced and played percussion on the album. The record features Shaw on tenor saxophone and alto flute, with the latter requiring less breath, though he continues to play saxophone, floating over Chick Corea’s 'Windows to the Soul' and sustaining long notes on 'Heart of a Phoenix'.
The album has been described as a 'lower, darker fog' compared to the West Coast jazz haze of Niño and Washington. Shaw navigates this sound with quiet caution, with intimate loops and flute flourishes providing optimistic notes. The record captures a young musician coming to terms with the end of one musical road and cautiously exploring what comes next.
