Preview Philly trombonist Dan Blacksberg’s new Radiant Others LP with “Doina”

From traditional klezmer workshops to daring experimental performances with his duo Archer Spade (not to mention his recent Double Decker Music Series engagement), Philly’s Dan Blacksberg covers a impressive expanse of territory with his trombone.

It’s a little tricky, therefore, to guess what that could mean for Radiant Others, the LP he’s releasing on September 27th. His band includes Archer Spade partner Nick Millevoi on electric and acoustic guitar, indicating it could certainly lean more left-of-center. But reading the credits, we see that with the exception of the opening “Doina,” these songs are all pieces of traditional music, arranged by Blacksberg.

Listening to that original, which is streaming right now on Bandcamp, one gets the sense that this collection might just be straddling both sides of Blacksberg’s world. We hear some frenzied runs of notes over its course, but warm Fender Rhodes holds a mellow, measured center, as well as a cinematic harmonized fanfare at the intro. This song is clearly intended a lead-in to the album, so it could kind of go anywhere from here, but it sounds from “Doina” like Blacksberg aims to infuse the fearless avant garde with timeless sounds and techniques, and vice versa.