ANNE SAJDERA

IT’S HERE

Bijuri Records

Anne Sajdera, piano/composer; Gary Brown, bass; Deszon Claiborne, drums; Mike Olmos & Miroslav Hloucal, trumpet; Jesse Levit & Jan Feĉo, alto saxophone; Rita Thies, flute; Joyce Lee, violin.

The Anne Sajedera group opens with a familiar jazz tune, “Stella By Starlight” with a Stevie Wonder-type introduction played by Sajdera on piano reminding me of his chord changes from “Creepin’.” It’s a catchy introduction.

Pianist, composer, Sajdera has composed songs 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 on her newly released album “It’s Here.”  Track #2 is the title tune and Sajdera ventures out with a piano solo that is simplistic, but lovely. She is joined for a full trio sound inclusive of Gary Bown on bass and Deszon Claiborne drumming. Mike Olmos takes a solo on trumpet, hitting some outrageously high notes on his horn. Jesse Levit is smooth as silk on alto saxophone. He calms the moment with his solo exploration. This is one of seven well-written tunes by composer/arranger, Anne Sajdera. On her third tune, “Lovely” (a waltz) Sajdera invites Rita Thies on flute and Joyne Lee on violin to the party.  On a tune called “Ach Anicka” Sajdera features Jan Feĉo on alto saxophone.  But first, she takes the lead, soloing on her grand piano and introducing us to her style and improvisational ideas.  Gary Brown also takes a noteworthy solo on his double bass.

Her tune “Three Color Study” becomes an original composition that showcases Anne Sajdera on solo piano. I asked her about this solo performance and what was behind this composition.

“The title ‘Three Color Study’ comes from the tradition that visual artists have, where they create a painting or drawing limiting it to three colors, including everything that can be done by mixing or not mixing those colors.  In a way, that’s like the visual artist’s equivalent of an etude. When composing this piece, the main motif was freely improvised, both melody and harmony. I wanted to develop it in a more intentional, less intuitive way.  So, I focused the piece around the first two measures and what they contained melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically. It straddles different musical genres. That’s the reasoning behind its name,” Anne explained.

One of my favorite tunes is “Bounce” that dances across my listening room like a huge beach ball moving gracefully across the beach.  This tune gives a warm spotlight on Anne Sajdera’s piano technique, while still giving a great deal of time and spotlight on the horn solos. I came away from this project feeling that Sajdera should take more piano solos, than giving so much time for the horn players to strut their stuff.  Then came the final song.  It’s all Anne Sajdera, as if she heard my thoughts. She plays a beautiful solo rendition of her song, “Just Starlight.”  There is no question that Sajdera is a wonderful composer and a sensitive, lyrical pianist.  This solo song becomes another favorite and a sensuous way to end her project and make you remember her artistry.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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