Altin Sencalar

Discover the Present

Posi-Tone

Discover the Present is trombonist and composer Altin Sencalar’s fifth album as a leader and by this writer’s count his third for the Posi-Tone label, all covered on these pages. On this date he leads a large ensemble but varies configurations.  With eight originals in these eleven, Sencalar is expanding his compositional repertoire into mor experimental territory while proving he can adeptly and creatively arrange some standards too. Afro-Latin jazz permeates some tracks per his heritage, but many are in a swinging post-bop mode with a few ballads for good measure. Sencalar fronts a “can’t lose” lineup of mostly label mates – Diego Rivera – tenor sax, Markus Howell – alto & soprano sax, Anthony Hervey – trumpet Michael Dease – baritone sax Art Hirahara – piano, Raul Reyes Bueno – bass, Rudy Royston – drums, and Pete Rodríguez – congas and percussion. Fans of Sencalar and the label will notice that multi-instrumentalist Michael Dease has switched to baritone sax, as we’ve seen in both sideman and leader roles recently and the label’s stalwart rhythm section is intact except for the newcomer on bass. Sencalar continues his evolution as a composer, long having proved his skills on the trombone.  Here he writes with the specific players in mind, taking inspiration from Duke Ellington in that regard.

He begins with the highly recognizable “Maiden Voyage” from Herbie Hancock, giving it some new colors with the accent on the alto and tenor saxes along with his own trombone. Hancock’s original, of course, was rendered by a quintet with George Coleman on tenor and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet. Here we have essentially a four-horn front line on the ensemble parts. The rollicking, vibrant “Pacing’ nods to the NYC jazz scene, both in the ‘90s and today, with mostly Roy Hargrove’s quintet as the source of inspiration. Rivera, Hervey, Hirahara, Royston, and Sencalar shine brightly.  The soul-jazz tune “Blue Evening” also has Hargrove as its inspiration, with insanely rapid runs from all four horns. Sencalar penned “Ain’t No Woman (like The One I Got) for his wife, tapping into the vintage R&B grooves of The Four Tops and  The Temptations, with whom he played when first starting in graduate school. In another uplifting move, he composed the mid-tempo ballad “The Sunday After” upon completion of his first recording session with the label. He takes the lead here, backed simply by the rhythm section, with Hirahara contributing his usual glistening turn. “Awareness” is a companion piece, more reflective in tone, with the emphasis on the harmonic blend of soprano sax, played gorgeously by Howell, and trombone, a combination rather rarely stressed in jazz recordings.

The first of the Latin inspired compositions is “Nevo Dia” featuring rapid runs from Rivera on tenor, matching those of Sencalar, and fiery lines from trumpeter Pete Rodriguez, who comes from salsa music royalty. Royston, as he’s proved many times over, is eminently comfortable with Latin rhythms, propelling the cooking ensemble. The second Latin infused tune “Pocket of Clave” is yet another high energy example.

Sencalar taps into bebop on “It’s Easy,” rendered as a quintet piece, Sencalar trading lines with his mentor Dease on baritone sax. Staying close to bebop trappings, though with a much slower, easy gliding tempo, Sencalar sources Tadd Dameron’s “Lady Bird” as a contrafact for “More Than One Answer,” with richer harmonies brightened by Howell on alto and Rivera on tenor. This, as much as any tune on the album, attests to the leader’s lyrical command of an instrument where melody is often subservient to harmony.  With a bit of symmetry Sencalar closes with the standard “You’re My Everything” a tune popularized by Nat King Cole and interpreted by Freddie Hubbard with Herbie Hancock on piano on Hubbard’s classic Hub Tones. Sencalar splits the difference by using elements of both, while inserting his own harmonic colorings, passing the melody around between the four horns, and cleverly adding a bossa feel. The lyrical talent of the ensemble is on full display in this standout.

Sencalar has delivered his richest album yet presenting a masterful exposition of harmonic jazz.

• Jim Hynes

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