Originally convened by trumpeter Dave Adewumi and bassist Isaac Levien, the improvising quintet Altus has become a tight collective forged by trial. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the US right as the band was developing its sound; however, the musicians responded by creating and recording their debut album, Riot Cycle, fully remotely.

On June 7, Altus releases their second album, Mythos (Biophilia). For this record, the band composed a series of pieces inspired by myths—the Yoruba story of Oludumare and the Greek story of Prometheus—discovering their own retellings grounded in their contemporary improvisational perspectives.

To celebrate the album’s release, Altus returns to The Jazz Gallery on Wednesday, June 5. Before coming out to the performance, take a listen to the record’s lead single, “Origin,” below.

Altus celebrates the release of Mythos (Biophilia) at The Jazz Gallery on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. The band features Dave Adewumi on trumpet, Neta Raanan on tenor saxophone, Nathan Reising on alto saxophone, Isaac Levien on bass, and Ryan Sands on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. E.D.T. $25 general admission (FREE for members), $35 reserved cabaret seating ($20 for members), $20 livestream access (FREE for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.