Always (Matana Roberts album)

Always is a 2024 jazz album by American composer and saxophonist Matana Roberts, released on Domino Recording Company. It is the twelfth and final installment in Roberts' ambitious, multi-volume project, Coin Coin, a series of musical chapters exploring the life and legacy of Roberts' African-American ancestors, specifically Marie Thérèse Coincoin, a freed slave who became a successful businesswoman in colonial Louisiana.

Always marks a culmination of the Coin Coin project, bringing together various threads and musical styles explored in previous installments, including improvisation, spoken word, historical research, and experimental soundscapes. The album features Roberts on saxophone and other instruments, along with a diverse ensemble of musicians. It delves into themes of memory, identity, trauma, and resilience, connecting historical narratives to contemporary experiences.

The album received critical acclaim upon its release, praised for its ambitious scope, emotional depth, and innovative approach to storytelling. It is considered a significant contribution to contemporary jazz and experimental music.