Tao-Njia

Released in 1996 on John Zorn's Tzadik label, Tao-Njia represents a pivotal moment in Wadada Leo Smith's career where his 'Ankhrasmation' symbolic notation system and his interest in Eastern philosophy fully converged. The album is structured as three long-form pieces, each utilizing a different ensemble configuration. 'Another Wave More Waves' features his N'Da Kulture group, while 'Double Thunderbolt' serves as a deeply personal six-movement memorial for the legendary Don Cherry, incorporating poetry by Harumi Makino Smith. The title track is a significant departure, featuring the California E.A.R. Unit, which pushes the record into the realm of contemporary classical music. Critics, including those at Down Beat and The Penguin Guide to Jazz, have noted the album's remarkable acoustic clarity and its 'calligraphic' quality. It stands as one of Smith's most accessible yet intellectually rigorous works, bridging the gap between the AACM's radical jazz traditions and the precision of chamber music.