Taking the tenor sax baton and running forward…
Neta Raanan debuts with a quartet album of originals with Joel Ross/vib, Simon Willson/b and Kayvon Gordon/dr with impressive ideas. She’s got a rich fog of a tone, with a style the hints at the thick harmonic sophistication of Warne Marsh, swinging at abstract angels. She has a mellow mood for the rich “Late Fire Colors” and laconically stretches out on “CY”. Ross gets the spotlight on the sublime “Melt” and the team gets frisky and loose during “Mountain Venice”. Most bopping is the pretty “Unforeseen Blossom” and gracefully post modern “Violet”. Serene sounds.
Tenor saxist goes the route of John Coltrane during his Atlantic years phase on this album of originals with Davis Whitfield/p, Rashaan Carter/ b and Kush Abadey/dr. He’s clear and bold on “Reflection Pool” and strtches out a bit on harmonies during the title piece. Whitfiled lays down lovely ideas on “Gneralife” and the team digs in on the post bopping “Scene Changes” wh iel the band stretches out on a modal “Will ‘o’ Wisp”. His favorite things.