The pacesetters of the then-emerging, so-called “post-rock” sound, Tortoise is widely considered one of the most influential music groups of the last forty years, with a wide-reaching impact on the contemporary music scene. Visionary drummer and producer Kassa Overall has established himself as a driving force on the international stage, with a band who’s garnered wide acclaim for their live performances.

DJ set by Dave Orlando aka Boss Harmz.

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Tortoise is widely considered one of the most influential music groups of the last forty years, with a wide-reaching impact on the contemporary music scene. The band, which originally formed in Chicago, comprises Jeff Parker, Dan Bitney, Douglas McCombs, John Herndon, and John McEntire. Releasing just seven albums since 1990—including classics like 1996’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1998’s TNT, and 2001’s Standards—Tortoise has steadily and intuitively evolved across its life, creating genre-less music that is as timeless as it is ahead of the curve. The band’s legacy goes beyond its recorded output, as well. Per The New York Times, “While Tortoise’s albums have experimented with the editing and overdubbing possibilities of the studio, the band thrives performing in real time.” Rolling Stone deems Tortoise “a live marvel,” while Pitchfork further says the band’s performances reveal that “at heart, they’re a supremely fun band, wide open to all sorts of sonic possibilities.”

If you’re trying to understand the future of jazz, turn your attention to Kassa Overall. Kassa’s groundbreaking solo projects have established him as a driving force on the international stage, fielding support from visionaries including Thom Yorke, Iggy Pop, Virgil Abloh, and more. His first studio album Got Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz (2019) bore witness to the emergence of a sound that layered the virtuosic drumming, polyrhythmic rapping, and meticulous production techniques he had honed separately. On I Think I’m Good, released in 2020 on Brownswood Recordings, his voice continued to crystallize, critiquing the injustices of the carceral system, the pharmaceutical industry, and anti-Black racism. Animals, released in 2023 on Warp Records, further showcased the breadth of his songwriting, production chops and unique rhythmic sensibility, from Roland 808s to abstract, modernist drumming. On Cream, his fourth solo studio album, Kassa Overall pays homage to the twin passions of his youth — hip-hop and jazz drums in the tradition of Elvin Jones. With this collection of instrumentals, the visionary drummer and producer transforms beloved songs from the 90s and aughts into timeless standards that are rhythmically adventurous, witty, and often sublime. He is a 2025 recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation Prize.

David Orlando aka Boss Harmz is a Los Angeles artist, DJ, and promoter. Long-running club nights include Dub Club (25 years) and Punky Reggae Party (20 years). He is also a drummer currently playing in the LA-based band El Colmo.