Natural Information Society

Natural Information Society was formed in Chicago by Joshua Abrams in 2010 to play music inspired by the ceremonial music of the Gnawa people. Abrams played guimbri, percussion, harmonium, bass, bells, dulcimer and other ethnic instruments on Natural Information (recorded in 2008 and 2009), flanked by Jason Adasiewicz on vibraphone Emmett Kelly on guitar Frank Rosaly and Noritaka Tanaka on drums. Represencing (september 2011), with the 25-minute Sound Talisman, introduced Lisa Alvarado' harmonium on three pieces, Mikel Avery's drums on two, David Boykin's tenor saxophone on two, Jason Stein's bass clarinet on one, Tomeka Reid's cello on one, besides Kelly's guitar and Frank Rosaly's drums, and even featured Chad Taylor's drums, Michael Zerang's tambourine, Nicole Mitchell's flute and Jeff Parker's electric guitar on some pieces.

Abrams played guimbri, bass, celeste, clarinet, small harp and bells on the double-LP Magnetoception (february 2013), flanked by Hamid Drake on percussion, Emmett Kelly and Jeff Parker on electric guitars, Lisa Alvarado on harmonium, and Ben Boye on autoharp. It includes the 16-minute By Way of Odessa.

The psychedelic jazz fusion of Automaginary (Drag City, 2015) was a collaboration with Bitchin Bajas (Cooper Crain on electronic keyboards, Rob Frye on bass clarinet and flute, Dan Quinlivan on synthesizer). It contains the 19-minute On No Fade. Simultonality (recorded in 2014 and 2015) features Abrams, Alvarado, Rosaly, Kelly, Boye, Ari Brown on tenor saxophone and Mikel Avery on percussion in five lengthy jams. The double-LP Mandatory Reality (recorded in 2017) features Abrams, Alvarado, Avery, Boye, Jason Stein on bass clarinet and flute, Ben Lamar on cornet and flute, and Hamid Drake on percussion. Descension - Out Of Our Constrictions (july 2019) was recorded by a quintet: Abrams, Alvarado, Stein, Avery and Evan Parker on soprano saxophone.

Since Time Is Gravity documents two sessions (may and august 2021) of the Natural Information Society: Abrams on bass and guimbri, Nick Mazzarella on alto sax, Mai Sugimoto on alto sax and flute, Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Hamid Drake on percussion, Ben Lamar Gay and Josh Berman on cornet, Mikel Avery on drums, Lisa Alvarado on harmonium, Kara Bershad on harp, and Ari Brown on tenor sax. It contains the 17-minute Murmuration.