NETA RAANAN

UNFORSEEN BLOSSOM

Giant Step Arts

Neta Raana, tenor saxophone/composer; Joel Ross, vibes; Simon Willson, bass; Kayvon Gordon, drums.

Neta Raanan has a soft, whispery tone on the tenor saxophone.  It’s compelling.  She opens her debut album with an original tune called “Violet.”

“An airy sound came very naturally to me since day one.  Especially being deeply influenced by the tone of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Ben Webster.  That velvety quality is part of why I love the instrument so much.  It expresses an introspective warmth and smokiness and gives it a kind of three-dimensional quality.  I always envision a timbre that feels like a warm fluffy couch or some kind of comfort food, like a good dumpling,” Neta Raanan explains her style and tone.

The addition of Joel Ross on vibraphone brings a beautiful touch to these arrangements.  He flutters into this tune to bring brightness and excitement with his flaming mallets flying. Kayvon Gordon is busy beneath his solo, adding power and punch on his trap drums while holding down the tempo. I hear Simon Willson walking his bass furiously, locking step with Gordon’s tempo.  This composition by Raanan leaves ample room for the group to improvise and express individual creativity.

This recording is “live” without the aid of studio enhancements or overdubs.  What you hear is what you get.  These talented young musicians step boldly into the spotlight.  Track #2, “Blue Jay,” is more Straight-ahead and aggressive than the first tune.  These are East Coast, respected modern jazz musicians.  Surprisingly, this band was playing ‘live’ for the first time when this music was recorded.  It shows their impeccable ability to listen and balance their ideas and instruments with each other. “Blue Jay” is post-bop from the start, but explores funk with a taste of fusion energy, then settles down to a cut-time (almost ballad pace) where Raanan riffs and sings her saxophone solo in abstract but lovely ways.

Neta Raanan’s “Unforeseen Blossom” album is the latest release in the Giant Step Arts series that celebrates Modern Masters and New Horizons.  The founder of the record company, Jimmy Katz, said:

“Giant Step Arts exists to aid musicians in realizing their artistic dreams.  It does not sell music, and artists retain full rights to their music.  We work tirelessly to raise funds with the goal of helping more musicians.”

The title tune bursts from Neta Raanan’s tenor saxophone like a bird in flight. She is unafraid to fly solo, letting her melody and improvised lines soar across space. Simon Willson joins in, about a quarter of the way through this beautiful ballad. He sings a booming bass descant to support her solo flight.

This is music I will enjoy many times over. Neta Raanan is a phenomenal young talent on the rise. I’m excited to hear more of her compositions and her tenor saxophone.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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