The Montreal-based collective CODE Quartet was formed by Christine Jensen on saxophones, Lex French on trumpet, Adrian Vedady on acoustic bass, and Jim Doxas on drums. They started with goals of composing and improvising in a chordless-quartet setting, inspired by Ornette Coleman's seminal late 1950's group. The eight tracks on this debut recording provide notice that this is a group making a solid musical statement. Seven of the eight tracks are originals by the members. French contributed three, while Jensen and Vedady each wrote two. The other tune is a traditional number.
Despite the nature of the band, the title track (by French) is the number that most evokes Coleman's classic group. French's "Tipsy" opens this recording. It is more of in a hard bop mode with features very expressive playing by Jensen. Vedady's melancholy "Watching It Slip Away" showcases French's trumpet along with the composer's own robust bass solo. There is a lovely version of the traditional hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," the melody of which Paul Simon used for "American Tune." French again stands out while Doxas's drums provide a rhythmic foil. Jensen's "Wind Up" is a bright-sounding and paced track with Doxas' muscular drumming pushing French's fiery trumpet and Jensen's fervent sax. Other selections include the melancholy feel of Vedady's "Requiem" and the celebratory character of Jensen's "Day Moon."
French's "Beach Community" is a calypso reminiscent of some of Sonny Rollin's compositions like "St. Thomas" or "Don't Stop the Carnival." The performance features sterling tenor saxophone followed by French's bright trumpet and Doxas' high-energy drum solo. It is a jubilant close to a superlative debut by this quartet that we hopefully will hear much more from in the future.
I received a download from a publicist. Here the CODE Quartet performs "Tipsy."
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