Label: Unit Records, 2026
Personnel - Jochen Baldes: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Christoph Irniger: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Raphael Walser: bass; Lukas Mantel: drums; Sonoe Kato: voice.
Swiss saxophonist and composer Jochen Baldes draws inspiration from 17th-century haiku master Matsuo Basho on his new outing, a dynamic chordless quartet opus that deftly blends Japanese-inflected melodies and jazz improvisation.
This new chapter in Baldes’ musical career is directly related to his talents as a painter and sculptor who loves Japanese art, and “Aki No Kure”, the album’s opening track, is a prime illustration of that. Baldes shows a close creative bond with saxophonist Christopher Irniger. They carry interesting intervallic tensions in their unisons and can easily anticipate each other’s ideas even when heading into unusual places, searching and discovering new landscapes with melodic insight.
Both “Sakura Kana”, a lively piece introduced by bass clarinets where the saxophonists throw in a flurry of shimmering notes, and “Kimi Hi O Take”, whose shifting tempos go from rubato to waltzing and then to a quintuple feel grazed with a hint of Latin for the first saxophone solo, feature bassist Raphael Walser.
The celebratory “Natsugoromo” has drummer Lukas Mantel claiming the spotlight for a while via metallic rattles incorporated into his well-judged drumming style. The saxophonists eventually take center stage with adroit improvisations, a scenario that repeats on “Sazaregani”, a celebrated 1687 summer haiku turned into a swinging freebop ride, with the muscular horns giving it an irresistible vibe. The album closes with “Meigetsu”, which includes passages in seven and six.
Baldes doesn’t attempt to sound radical or create off-kilter environments, but rather makes his music flow with rhythmic consistency and keenly articulated melodies. The moods and textures don’t change much, but Basho is a successful experiment in the art of the explorer.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Aki No Kure ► 08 - Natsugoromo ► 06 - Kimi Hi O Take ► 12 - Sazaregani
