Dann Zinn

Two Roads

 Ridgeway

Saxophonist and composer Dann Zinn has long been a fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene. He’s veteran that’s worked with such past greats as Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard and with modern day mainstays Terri Lynn Carrington, Mike Stern, Taylor Eigsti, David Weiss, Peter Erskine and more. The lineup on Two Roads shouts ‘powerhouse’ and the album certainly delivers on that dimension. Pianist Rachel Z, drummer Omar Hakim, and bassist Jeff Denson form Zinn’s backing trio along with percussionist Brian Rice.  Zinn fronts on tenor saxophone and on a new one for me, processed saxophone. While the  album was recorded before Zinn sustained a major injury to his hand, in order to continue playing, he had to rebuild his saxophone to accommodate for the loss of some finger movement. But again, this recording is pre-accident.

Much is made in the press materials about the title of the album taking its inspiration from the first two words in Robert Frost’s famous poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Zinn, forced with a career decision, chose to stay with music and we can suppose if he were calling it quits, we’d have a different title altogether. Nonetheless, the injury no longer allows him to play the flute but he can manage the alto flute and has made the adjustments on his tenor. Okay, let’s move to the music itself, which the vast majority of which, if not all of it, was recorded before his accident and with this dream team of musicians in mind for the eight originals that Zinn composed.  Two Roads is both white hot burner and sensitive delight. You’ll hear both ends of the spectrum and plenty of shades in between in this highly conceptualized work.

Opener “Yarak” gallops along briskly featuring a sparkling piano turn from Z, including an intriguing unison passage with Denson to cap her solo and thunderous kit work from Hakim throughout. Meanwhile Zinn is masterful on his tenor with intensity and precision. Zinn employs an ECM-like Jan Garbarek Nordic folk song motif in the gorgeous “The Sound of Ice Melting’ which features a bright intro from Z, beehive like movement from Hakim, and expressive tenor from the leader. The unhurried tempo gives each individual voice plenty of room to state his/her case. Zinn takes a soulful strut through the gospel infused “Pros and Cons,” invoking lessons learned from mentors Lenny Pickett and Michael Brecker along the way, especially his lightning darts to the upper registers. Different still is the balladic title track, buoyed by Denson’s vocals and percussion from Rice with effervescent piano from Z and Hakim’s crafty rhythm flourishes.  The quintet closes the melodic piece emphatically.

We hear the processed saxophone on the mysterious, soundtrack like “A Revolution of One” which has its share of rollicking moments through the jagged, start-stop rhythm patterns as Zinn is in highly improvisational mode in his non-process tenor flight. As for the processed saz, it’s an experiment that doesn’t pan out to these ears. Z responds accordingly and Denson reins them all in, although it goes ‘out there’ at the end. Let’s take a quick diversion here. One can’t help but be impressed by Z’s pianism. For a closer listen, you should check out her trio project, Sensual,released this past March. Perhaps the best example of her sensitive touch is on the ballad that follows. “Streams of Dreams” which returns us to firmer ground. Of course, Zinn and Denson get their say as well in this highly lyrical gem.

We return to the misstep of the processed sax in “East Bay Punk,” as it spins out a spooky atmosphere but Hakim and Denson soon establish a funky groove. It takes Zinn a while to fire up but once he does he is blazing all the way to a volcanic finale, powered in part, by Hakim’s frenetic energy.  Z delivers a gleaming intro for the deep closer, “Prayer Again,” a rework of a piece on Zinn’s 2007 Wish. This is palette cleaner to the highest degree, a soothing, meditative ballad that may find you, eyes closed, lost in thought, reverie, or your own means of worship.

There was a fork in the road for Zinn but he burns down the musical path without hesitation, kicking up dust in his wake.

– Jim Hynes

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter