Article Contributed by Leighton Media
Published on 2026-09-02
“Omnidirectional” is the long-awaited sound of two master improvisers—guitarist Gary Lucas and drummer/percussionist Lukas Ligeti—traveling through space, time, and genre with total freedom.
Across three fully improvised instrumentals and a luminous, reimagined version of Alice Coltrane’s “Journey in Satchidananda,” the duo creates music that feels both spontaneous and meticulously shaped, cosmic yet deeply human.
Ligeti proposed the album title; Lucas supplied the track names—each one a clue to the swirling, fiery, exploratory nature of the music.
“When we get together, we are fiery,” Lucas says. “Free jazz lets us create melodies we can use for even more music.”
THE SOUND: FREE JAZZ, COSMIC DRIFT, AND MELODIC DISCOVERY
Recorded live at East Side Sound, Lucas’s favorite NYC studio, Omnidirectional is a document of pure improvisation. No overdubs. No pre-written hooks. Just two musicians painting in real time. There was mixing and editing to bring out the best of the final performances.
Lucas’s looping creates gravitational pull and unexpected hooks; Ligeti’s polymetric imagination pushes the music into new orbits. Together, they generate sound paintings that feel infinite, constantly evolving, and emotionally charged.
A historical touchstone for Lucas and Ligeti was Alice Coltrane’s Karma, featuring Pharoah Sanders—an influence that threads through their spiritual, spacious energy.
TRACKS
1. Phlogiston
Named for the mythical substance once believed to cause combustion.
Lucas: “What was inflamed becomes this—freed ashes, the powder from rust.”
2. Journey in Satchidananda
A reverent, exploratory take on Alice Coltrane’s classic. Satchidananda in Sanskrit refers to existence, consciousness, and bliss.
3. Over 6 Million Served
A reflective piece inspired by Lucas’s visit to Dachau during the Knitting Factory’s tour of Europe.
“Some of the thoughts written at the gate whitewashed history. In reality, the camps and the Holocaust had 6 million killed.”
4. Whorls Within Whirls
A pun on the swirling, spiraling nature of the music—galaxies within galaxies.
All compositions are by Gary Lucas and Lukas Ligeti except “Journey in Satchidananda,” composed by Alice Coltrane.
HOW THE DUO FORMED
Gary Lucas heard of Lukas Ligeti through his father, legendary composer György Ligeti, known in part for music used in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
When Lucas moved to New York, Lukas stepped in as a substitute drummer for Gods and Monsters—and the chemistry was instant.
“It’s easy to hang out with Lukas, which is important if you’re going to do a duo,” Gary Lucas says.
In time, Ligeti taught and performed outside the state and country, but when he visited New York City, the two would play their improvisations live at The Stone, the venue for avant-garde performances.
Recently, they booked time at East Side Sound and recorded the entire album live. They later refined the mixes and edited the pieces to highlight the most exciting moments.
ABOUT GARY LUCAS
A world-class guitarist, GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, and international touring artist, Lucas has released more than 50 albums across genres including jazz, rock, classical, folk, blues, avant-garde, and world music.
He has performed in more than 40 countries and collaborated with artists including Captain Beefheart, Jeff Buckley, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, and Bryan Ferry. He has also received multiple Lifetime Achievement awards for his songwriting with Buckley on “Grace” and “Mojo Pin.”
Dubbed “The Thinking Man’s Guitar Hero” by The New Yorker and “one of the best and most original guitarists in America” by Rolling Stone, Lucas continues to push boundaries with every project.
ABOUT LUKAS LIGETI
An Austrian-American composer, drummer, and researcher, Ligeti’s work spans classical composition, African polyrhythms, jazz, electronics, and experimental traditions.
He is a recipient of the CalArts Alpert Award, has been commissioned by major orchestras and ensembles worldwide, and has taught at UC Irvine, the University of Pretoria, the University of Ghana, and is currently Professor of Composition at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles.
As a drummer, he has performed with John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Henry Kaiser, Marilyn Crispell, George Lewis, and many others. His approach—experimental intercultural collaboration—has shaped his work across five continents.
