Gwen Laster was contemplating Joseph Campbell’s book The Hero's Journey one day, and found herself wondering if there was a ‘Hero's Journey’ for African Americans. It turned out that there was, and Clyde W Ford’s The Hero With an African Face became not only a personal inspiration but also a direct influence on Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet’s Keepers of the Flame.
—Ron Kadish
Gwen Laster was contemplating Joseph Campbell’s book The Hero's Journey one day, and found herself wondering if there was a ‘Hero's Journey’ for African Americans. It turned out that there was, and Clyde W Ford’s The Hero With an African Face became not only a personal inspiration but also a direct influence on Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet’s upcoming album Keepers of the Flame (May 10, 2025, self-release).
Born in October 2015 and founded by Violinist/Composer Laster, Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet’s artistic expression speaks to the people as an improvising 4tet offering 20th and 21st-century new works and original compositions as a vehicle for social activism. Commissioned by Arts Mid Hudson, Gwen’s “Black Lives Matter Suite" premiered shortly after the inception of New Muse 4tet and continues to draw in audiences and critical acclaim. As traditionally trained players who evolved into improvisers and composers, they are rooted in the philosophy that improvisation is the highest form of freedom and create dialogue, self-expression, and original works steeped in music from the African diaspora.
The Hero With an African Face contains two African hero myths that are brought to musical life by Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet. The story behind the album’s title track, Keepers of the Flame, is a Cameroonian tale:
Zambe, son of the supreme god Mebe'e, created a chimpanzee, a gorilla, an elephant, and two men—a European and an African. To these creatures, Zambe gave the tools of survival—fire, water, food, weapons, and a book. In time, Zambe returned to check on the earth. “All the tools you were given for survival," he asked each creature, “where are they now?" The chimpanzee and the gorilla had discarded all but the food. The elephant could not remember what he'd done with his possessions. The European kept the book but discarded the fire, while the African discarded the book but kept the fire. Thus, Europeans remained keepers of the book, but Africans keepers of the flame.
Opening with solo string lines and trills over drummer Andrew Drury’s shakers and cymbals, “Keepers of the Flame” quickly moves into a cello-and-drum led groove with Melanie Dyer’s soaring viola lines improvising and Gwen then joining with the theme. Suddenly, the mood shifts and collective improvisation takes hold before Gwen solos over a reestablished groove. Chordal stabs bring us back into the melody before an abrupt ending leaves us wanting more.
Similarly inspired by African myths from “The Hero With an African Face” is the track “Asamondo”. A man called Kwasi Benafo has given up on life and decides to will himself into the land of the departed. But upon his arrival, he is told by the souls who are there that it is not his time, and he must go back to find a wife and have children. Thus the title—‘Asamondo’ translates to ‘land of the departed’.
Harmonics and ponticello bow creaks open “Asamondo”, perhaps suggesting a walk into the Land of the Departed. Spirits start to swirl around while the cello sneaks into a pizzicato groove. After the melodic statement, cellist Teddy Rankin Parker leads us further into a violin-fueled meeting with departed spirits before we’re sent back to living life by the entire ensemble.
Originally written for big band as Artist in Residence at Bard College, ‘Dristi’ looks to another tradition for inspiration. Meaning ‘focus’ in Sanskrit, ‘Drishti’ is about keeping your eye on one thing to keep your balance. Reworked for New Muse 4tet, the song immediately focuses on establishing an addictive groove. During a drum-filled group solo section the implied groove stays strong, a testament to New Muse 4tet’s seemingly telepathic collective improvisation skills.
Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet released Keepers of the Flame on May 10, 2025, on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.
Born in October 2015 and founded by Violinist/Composer Laster, Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet’s artistic expression speaks to the people as an improvising 4tet offering 20th and 21st-century new works and original compositions as a vehicle for social activism. Commissioned by Arts Mid Hudson, Gwen’s “Black Lives Matter Suite" premiered shortly after the inception of New Muse 4tet and continues to draw in audiences and critical acclaim. As traditionally trained players who evolved into improvisers and composers, they are rooted in the philosophy that improvisation is the highest form of freedom and create dialogue, self-expression, and original works steeped in music from the African diaspora.
The Hero With an African Face contains two African hero myths that are brought to musical life by Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet. The story behind the album’s title track, Keepers of the Flame, is a Cameroonian tale:
Zambe, son of the supreme god Mebe'e, created a chimpanzee, a gorilla, an elephant, and two men—a European and an African. To these creatures, Zambe gave the tools of survival—fire, water, food, weapons, and a book. In time, Zambe returned to check on the earth. “All the tools you were given for survival," he asked each creature, “where are they now?" The chimpanzee and the gorilla had discarded all but the food. The elephant could not remember what he'd done with his possessions. The European kept the book but discarded the fire, while the African discarded the book but kept the fire. Thus, Europeans remained keepers of the book, but Africans keepers of the flame.
Opening with solo string lines and trills over drummer Andrew Drury’s shakers and cymbals, “Keepers of the Flame” quickly moves into a cello-and-drum led groove with Melanie Dyer’s soaring viola lines improvising and Gwen then joining with the theme. Suddenly, the mood shifts and collective improvisation takes hold before Gwen solos over a reestablished groove. Chordal stabs bring us back into the melody before an abrupt ending leaves us wanting more.
Similarly inspired by African myths from “The Hero With an African Face” is the track “Asamondo”. A man called Kwasi Benafo has given up on life and decides to will himself into the land of the departed. But upon his arrival, he is told by the souls who are there that it is not his time, and he must go back to find a wife and have children. Thus the title—‘Asamondo’ translates to ‘land of the departed’.
Harmonics and ponticello bow creaks open “Asamondo”, perhaps suggesting a walk into the Land of the Departed. Spirits start to swirl around while the cello sneaks into a pizzicato groove. After the melodic statement, cellist Teddy Rankin Parker leads us further into a violin-fueled meeting with departed spirits before we’re sent back to living life by the entire ensemble.
Originally written for big band as Artist in Residence at Bard College, ‘Dristi’ looks to another tradition for inspiration. Meaning ‘focus’ in Sanskrit, ‘Drishti’ is about keeping your eye on one thing to keep your balance. Reworked for New Muse 4tet, the song immediately focuses on establishing an addictive groove. During a drum-filled group solo section the implied groove stays strong, a testament to New Muse 4tet’s seemingly telepathic collective improvisation skills.
Gwen Laster’s New Muse 4tet released Keepers of the Flame on May 10, 2025, on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.
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