ODED TZUR - Here Be Dragons
ECM 083 5998
Oded Tzur (tenor saxophone); Nitai Hershkovits (piano); Petros Klampanis (double bass); Johnathan Blake (drums)
Recorded Jne 2019
Manfred Echer has an uncanny ear and knack for picking up some of the most important and influential musicians not only in Europe, but worldwide. Often he will so do so at just the right time when they are entering their first maturity or an important juncture in their career, and once again he has done so in bringing Oded Tzur into the fold. Tzur has been causing quite a stir of late, with his band having been described as the 'Coltrane Quartet of the 21st Century', but it is with this signing and debut for ECM that perhaps the Tel Aviv born, New York based tenor saxophonist has really found his voice and the environment in which it can truly flourish.
Over many years of dedication and practice of his chosen instrument, Tzur has developed a unique concept sound for the tenor saxophone. As well as his deep rooted connection to jazz, his interest in improvised music also he also immersed himself in Indian classical music becoming fascinated with the microtonal shading found within the music and the ability of the non Western instruments to slide between the notes and highlight the hidden colours within. This led Tzur to a decade long quest to devise and perfect a technique on the saxophone to slide between the notes, and studied intensively with Indian master flautist, Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Two previous albums as leader under his own name for Enja Records, Like a Great River (2015) and Translator's Note (2017) show how far the saxophonist had come with a terrific quartet that was playing some highly personal and original music, but there did at times seem to be an uneasy conflict within the music. Whilst there was no obvious showboating, the virtuosity shown by Tzur and pianist, Shai Maestro pulled in different directions and with a contrasting energy. With the new quartet, Oded has retained the services of long time colleague, bassist Petros Klampanis, and enlisted two new members in fellow Israeli Nitai Hershkovits on piano and US drummer, Jonathan Blake.
It is is immediately apparent that the four musicians create a completely new framework and dynamic for Tzur's compositions. The feel and mood is more relaxed, the tempo's slower, and the energy implied rather than implicitly stated. In doing space is created within the music for the saxophone to allow the melodic lines to unfurl in their own time. Nothing is rushed, and Oded takes on the role of the master storyteller, and it is indeed this narrative from the saxophone that makes the music so compelling. Supported by his colleagues with such total empathy, the saxophonist is free to allow his tales to flourish, the story told with gentle embellishments and detours along the way. It is perhaps therefore no surprise that the jewels in this particular crown are heard on the longer pieces where the quartet work patiently in creating the perfect setting for the stories that unfold. Always understated with the message coming across strongly, the musicians are able to sketch out aural backdrops to the compositions with Tzur's lyrical and compelling playing spelling out the theme and soloing with lucid and fluid invention. The tenor saxophone sound is breathtakingly tender, allowing every subtle inflection and tonal variation to be clearly heard.
From the opening title track, and the delightful '20 Years' with stunning solo from piansit, Hershkovits, you will find yourself totally engaged in what can only be described as exquisite music making, and Oded cements this premise with an equally profound if somewhat surprising reading of 'Can't Help Falling In Love'. With this his ECM debut, Tzur has perhaps found the perfect home in which to further develop his fascinating journey and exploration of the tenor saxophone; and what a journey this promises to be.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 083 5998
Oded Tzur (tenor saxophone); Nitai Hershkovits (piano); Petros Klampanis (double bass); Johnathan Blake (drums)
Recorded Jne 2019
Manfred Echer has an uncanny ear and knack for picking up some of the most important and influential musicians not only in Europe, but worldwide. Often he will so do so at just the right time when they are entering their first maturity or an important juncture in their career, and once again he has done so in bringing Oded Tzur into the fold. Tzur has been causing quite a stir of late, with his band having been described as the 'Coltrane Quartet of the 21st Century', but it is with this signing and debut for ECM that perhaps the Tel Aviv born, New York based tenor saxophonist has really found his voice and the environment in which it can truly flourish.
Over many years of dedication and practice of his chosen instrument, Tzur has developed a unique concept sound for the tenor saxophone. As well as his deep rooted connection to jazz, his interest in improvised music also he also immersed himself in Indian classical music becoming fascinated with the microtonal shading found within the music and the ability of the non Western instruments to slide between the notes and highlight the hidden colours within. This led Tzur to a decade long quest to devise and perfect a technique on the saxophone to slide between the notes, and studied intensively with Indian master flautist, Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Two previous albums as leader under his own name for Enja Records, Like a Great River (2015) and Translator's Note (2017) show how far the saxophonist had come with a terrific quartet that was playing some highly personal and original music, but there did at times seem to be an uneasy conflict within the music. Whilst there was no obvious showboating, the virtuosity shown by Tzur and pianist, Shai Maestro pulled in different directions and with a contrasting energy. With the new quartet, Oded has retained the services of long time colleague, bassist Petros Klampanis, and enlisted two new members in fellow Israeli Nitai Hershkovits on piano and US drummer, Jonathan Blake.
It is is immediately apparent that the four musicians create a completely new framework and dynamic for Tzur's compositions. The feel and mood is more relaxed, the tempo's slower, and the energy implied rather than implicitly stated. In doing space is created within the music for the saxophone to allow the melodic lines to unfurl in their own time. Nothing is rushed, and Oded takes on the role of the master storyteller, and it is indeed this narrative from the saxophone that makes the music so compelling. Supported by his colleagues with such total empathy, the saxophonist is free to allow his tales to flourish, the story told with gentle embellishments and detours along the way. It is perhaps therefore no surprise that the jewels in this particular crown are heard on the longer pieces where the quartet work patiently in creating the perfect setting for the stories that unfold. Always understated with the message coming across strongly, the musicians are able to sketch out aural backdrops to the compositions with Tzur's lyrical and compelling playing spelling out the theme and soloing with lucid and fluid invention. The tenor saxophone sound is breathtakingly tender, allowing every subtle inflection and tonal variation to be clearly heard.
From the opening title track, and the delightful '20 Years' with stunning solo from piansit, Hershkovits, you will find yourself totally engaged in what can only be described as exquisite music making, and Oded cements this premise with an equally profound if somewhat surprising reading of 'Can't Help Falling In Love'. With this his ECM debut, Tzur has perhaps found the perfect home in which to further develop his fascinating journey and exploration of the tenor saxophone; and what a journey this promises to be.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
