Nicholas Brust Frozen In Time

Nicholas Brust
Frozen In Time
Fresh Sound Records

Nicholas Brust is part of the current New York scene. He attended the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he studied with Jerry Bergonzi, Frank Carlberg, Ran Blake, John McNeil, Donny McCaslin, and Miguel Zenón. Before that, he attended the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Walt Weiskopf, Harold Danko, and Chien-Kwan Lin. This young alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader has other influences, including Michael Brecker, George Coleman, Robert Glasper, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Frank Strozier, and Bob Berg. On his first full album, Brust is backed Ben Eunson on guitar, Tuomo Uusitalo on piano, Josh Allen on bass, and Jay Sawyer on drums.

From the opening notes of "Work Ahead," one is impressed by Brust's imposing dexterity and sound, as he casts forth ingenious improvisations backed by a first-rate group. The opening track is performed at a breakneck pace, yet he spins his thoughtful ideas with apparent ease. Brust calls "Hearts and Spades" an attempt to draft a pop-jazz tune. It is a lovely ballad starting with a counterpoint line between piano and bass. Bassist Allen solos over Uusitalo's chording before Brust's own melodic blues-inflected ballad playing. Eunson solos over the ostinato while Sawyer's light playing adds rhythmic accents. Another lovely performance is "Brooklyn Folk Song," with more exquisite alto sax. "Frozen in Time" captures one's attention with a bass riff that loops around with Brust and Eunson, jointly laying down the main melody.

"Adversity" is one of several compositions that Brust has written as a homage to the New York scene. Its theme is evocative a Woody Shaw's compositions and features a scintillating guitar solo. Brust dazzles with the fluid development of ideas before the tempo changes to a crawl and sax and horn riff supporting Uusitalo's solo. "Something Like a Storm" is another memorable performance with tempo changes, turbulent musical sections, and Brust's use of dynamics in building the intensity in his solo. The final track, "A Shifting State," is a drummer-less trio with Eunson and Allen. It has a catchy melody set against a shifting rhythmic framework that Allen's bass provides.

"Frozen In Time' is an auspicious debut. Nicholas Brust has crafted ear-catching tunes, which are the foundation for his imaginative and skilled improvisations in the company of a first-rate band.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a 2015 performance of "Brooklyn Folk Song."

Perry Smith Quartet Live in Brooklyn

Perry Smith Quartet
Live in Brooklyn
Smith Tone Records

For 4 years, guitarist and composer Perry Smith, with bassist Matt Aronoff, has been organizing, cultivating and growing this jam session an all-inclusive, everyone-is-welcome "hang." It is now called "The Nest Session," because it is situated currently at The Nest in Brooklyn's Leffert's Gardens. This present recording was recorded at The Nest and has Smith and Aronoff joined by saxophonist Melissa Aldana and drummer Jay Sawyer.

Born in the San Francisco Bay area, Smith has degrees from the University of Southern California (where he studied with Joe Diorio) and New York University (where's he studied with John Scofield). As a guitarist, he generally blends the traditions of jazz with contemporary sounds. About this recording, he states that Wes Montgomery's "Full House" was a significant inspiration. Over the years I've always come back to it because the energy of the band is so joyful. The interactive playing is incredible and the scope of repertoire includes swinging tracks, straight grooves and beautiful ballads . . . a lifetime of inspiration," He notes that this recording is "more straight-ahead than my previous recordings."

A superficial comparison can be made of the performances here to the Sonny Rollins Quartet with Jim Hall. This is only a reference point as Smith and Aldana bring their own vibrant musical voices here. The opening "Starlit Skies" (one of 3 Smith originals) opens with Smith lyrical horn-like lines followed by Aldana's full-throated thematic soloing. Note should be made of the swinging accompaniment throughout by Aronoff and Sawyer. Sawyer kicks off the heated "Premonition" (another original with Smith and Aldana again both in full flight. Smith opens the standard "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" with some honeyed playing followed by Aldana's exquisite solo. The rendition of "All The Things You Are" is equally sublime. Another original, "Golden Days," an appealing contrafact of "Yesterdays," opens as a duet with bassist Aronoff with another engrossing solo from Aldana. Perhaps the highpoint of this CD is a fabulous interpretation of Sonny Stitt's "Eternal Triangle," taken at a blazing tempo with Aldana and Smith both at the top of their game. Sawyer takes a high energy drum solo here.

Listening to this recording makes me want to check out Perry Smith's earlier albums. He is excellent in the straight-ahead vein of this recording. Melissa Aldana astonishes and indeed has established herself as one of today's foremost jazz tenor saxophonists (not to mention a composer as she displays on her own recordings). With a tight band and their superb playing, "Live in Brooklyn" is simply outstanding.

I received from a review copy from a publicist. Here is a slightly different version of the Perry Smith Quartet performing Charlie Haden's "Waltz For Ruth."