Contra/Fact by Matthew Lux's Communication Arts Quartet

It's hard to believe that this is indeed the debut album as a leader for Matthew Lux. If you don't recognize his name don't worry, chances are good you have heard his playing with groups such as Isotope 217, Exploding Star Orchestra & other various Rob Mazurek ensembles, or as sideman/bassist extraordinaire for Iron & Wine, Azita, Plush, Smog, Diverse, Tranquility Bass and so much more. Peter Margasak of the Chicago Reader recently dubbed Lux the "Kevin Bacon of Chicago music, connected to just about every important living player in the city." Lux has built a career from staying out of the spotlight and we are quite excited to help push Lux deservedly out into the light.

Contra/Fact finds Lux surrounding himself with some of Chicago's best & brightest including Ben Lamar Gay on cornet, electronics & percussion (Bottle Tree, El is a Sound of Joy), Mikel Patrick Avery on drums, percussion, mellotron & more (Josh Abram's Natural Information Society, Rob Mazurek, Theaster Gates, etc) & Jayve Montgomery (Theaster Gates, etc) on various woodwinds, samples & percussion. Conta/Fact is incredibly eclectic but is still singularly focused throughout. All forays into percussion led grooves, electronic abstractions, modal explorations and more are mixed with a spiritual-tinged jazz resulting in what could well be a modern day Phil Cohran album (and I say that without hyperbole). Matthew Lux has given us a modern day jazz masterpiece.