Enja Records proudly releases Street Talk, by Saxophone Summit, a unit for which the description super group is an understatement. Its Saxophone Summits fourth album since sax giants Michael Brecker, David Liebman and Joe Lovano first joined forces in 1999 to celebrate John Coltranes epochal late-career musical production. And Street Talk is the first Saxophone Summit album that includes alto saxophone icon Greg Osby, who joined the group for the summer tour that preceded this August 30, 2017 studio date. Osby * Ravi Coltrane, who had assumed the third tenor saxophone chair on the albums Seraphic Light (2008) and Visitation (2011) after Breckers death in 2007. As on each of Saxophone Summits aforementioned albums, pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart form an extraordinarily sensitive rhythm section that at once propels, coheres and complements the inspired flow of the three saxophonists, each an instantly recognizable voice. Liebman emphasizes the shamanistic Harts essential role, describing him as an extreme storyteller and dramatist who can handle three to four solos and not have repetitions. Rather than perform their heroic interpretations of Coltranes repertoire, which the musicians know, as author Ashley Kahn once wrote, with a chapter-and-verse familiarity, Saxophone Summit performs an original composition by each member. The Coltrane influence in Sax Summit is alive, but weve steered away from it on purpose as a representation of the group, Liebman says. We keep that spirit, and play tunes with that vibe or feel, but its our own music our collective experience put together. Weve each come up with a common basis while retaining an individuality thats unique to each of us.
