Miami | 09.01.09
If you listen to a lot of jazz saxophonists as I do, you can’t help but notice that unmistakable search for the precision, improvisational prowess and lyricism of John Coltrane.
Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of jazz saxophonists who tried to sound like Coltrane, the most remarkable phenomenon to ever touch the instrument. That’s understandable, given his rich tone and remarkable compositions, from the complexity of Giant Steps and the haunting sound of Naima to the spirituality of A Love Supreme.
One new jazz voice who reminds me of Coltrane but who brings his own unique voice to jazz is Puerto Rican saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón, whose latest album, Awake, released last year on Marsalis Music, is a rich suite that sounds better every day.
The album’s 10 tracks, which he wrote over three years, begin with Awakening Prelude, a tune that employs a string quartet as the foundation for the saxophone. It is a gentle prelude to a journey of emotions and rhythm.
The groove quickly picks up with the following track, Cameron, on which Zenón builds on an opening phrase, with pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Henry Cole running with him.
On The Missing Piece, Zenón uses his alto to first establish a soft, almost hushed mood before shifting to urgent pleas as Cole delivers splashes of cymbals. Ulysses in Motion and its flowing and multidimensional style reflects the influence of producer Branford Marsalis.
Zenón returns to his theme with Awakening Interlude at the album’s midpoint in an explosive take that includes three additional horns. With Santo, he takes the listener on a flowing lyrical ride that features Glawischnig on a bass solo. For Lamamilla, his wife Elga’s nickname, the quartet is joined by strings as Perdomo caresses the keys of a Fender Rhodes.
The musicians switch gears again on The Third Dimension, a vigorous and funky groove that shows how the composer has mastered tempo, rhythm and melody. Perdomo delivers a lively solo as Cole counters nicely on drums with rapid precision.
To close the album, Zenón returns unaccompanied with Awakening Postlude and mixes long and short phrases, much as a good writer would. He's an invigorating, creative and visionary artist. Coltrane would be proud.
Zenón has just released a new album, Esta Plena, which celebrates Puerto Rico's plena rhythm. More on that to come. |♫|
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