Echoes of the Inner Prophet

JAZZ - TENOR SAX & SMALL COMBO

Up and coming composer and saxophonist Melissa Aldana is from Chile, but now lives in NYC and records for Blue Note. Earlier discs in our library (ZK 1061053 & 1099010) have Aldana backed only by bass & drums. On this one she adds piano (Cuban-American Fabian Almazan from Terence Blanchard's band) and electric guitar (Norwegian Lage Lund). Compositions by Aldana, except #5 by bassist Pablo Menares and #8 by Lund.

FCC clean, all instrumental

1 very slow. Percussion intro; sax melody emerges; glistening piano & sounds join in (2:58)
2 * slow. Ensemble jam with each player stepping up in turns; dissonant & free in places but not too challenging; intriguing (6:50)
3 ** mid-slow. Pretty with just a hint of Latin rhythm; interplay of breathy sax & guitar remind me of 1960s Stan Getz - Charlie Byrd collaborations (6:08)
4 relaxed mid-tempo. Sax leads mostly, with guitar & piano solos in the middle (6:08)
5 very slow. Sax intro; bass solo backed by piano & brushed drums; sax returns (4:02)
6 ** mid-tempo. Flowing sax runs backed up by the band; good guitar solo midway; the most melodic & accessible piece (5:00)
7 slow. Amorphous fantasia; contemplative in mood but doesn’t lead anywhere (5:18)
8 ** mid-tempo. Catchy & tuneful, featuring nicely melodious sax lines, an excellent, extended guitar solo, and interesting varied rhythms (6:24)