New York-based saxophonist, composer, and educator David Bixler continues his recent streak of creative reinvention with incognito ergo sum—the second release from his boundary-pushing trio with bassist Dan Loomis and drummer/percussionist Fabio Rojas. A follow-up to the trio’s 2020 debut, Inside the Grief—which responded powerfully to the overlapping crises of that year—this new album draws its energy from their early days playing for parkgoers in pandemic-era New York.

Born in a moment of global disruption, incognito ergo sum strips away stylistic borders in favor of shared human expression, drawing on bebop, free jazz, rock, and Venezuelan folk traditions to craft a sound that is both defiant and deeply connected. True to its title, incognito ergo sum (“I am incognito, therefore I am”) celebrates artistic anonymity and collective intention. Early performances saw the group playing under the radar, with Bixler inviting musicians to join without name recognition—an effort to shift the focus from ego to music-making itself. That ethos shines through on this record: conversational, unbound, and driven by curiosity over category.

Across the album’s original compositions, the trio moves with instinct and cohesion—melding intricate rhythmic ideas with moments of stillness, density with clarity. It’s a sound as rooted in downtown NYC improvisation as it is in South American traditions or the post-bop lineage.

Band Members:
David Bixler - Alto & Soprano Saxophones
Dan Loomis - Bass
Fabio Rojas - Percussion