Label: Unit Records, 2026
Personnel - Alain Métrailler: tenor saxophone; Elias Stemeseder: piano; Chris Tordini: bass; Eric McPherson: drums + guest - Gregoire Maret: harmonica (#5).
Heights Prospection, the debut album by Swiss saxophonist and composer Alain Métrailler, balances styles, moods, and grooves with distinct character. Some records manage to appeal to listeners across the jazz spectrum, and this is certainly one of them. Featuring seven compelling original compositions, Métrailler entrusts them to a vibrant New York–based quartet with pianist Elias Stemeseder, bassist Chris Tordini, and drummer Eric McPherson. The bandleader, who spent six years in Brooklyn before returning to Switzerland, also interprets the standard “Crazy He Calls Me” in a supple saxophone–piano duet dedicated to influential alto saxophonist Lee Konitz.
Métrailler does not limit himself to classic jazz lyricism; he also pushes forward through adventurous explorations that exceed expectations. The opener, “Obvious Transmission”—a 5/4 blues written for his mentor, saxophonist Ohad Talmor—and “Jump Loud”, a piece that channels the spirit of Thelonious Monk and Anthony Braxton with edgier contours—it is dedicated to Joe Lovano—exemplify this approach. The former thrives on a steady piano pulse, contrapuntal bass lines, and flowing drums that inject a polyrhythmic feel. Métrailler’s dark-hued, introspective saxophone voice blends reflection and urgency, suggesting a meeting point between John Coltrane and Ellery Eskelin.
“Crispy”, a hard-bop nod to saxophonist and clarinetist Chris Speed, leans more directly on tradition, propelled by McPherson’s steady ride cymbal, Stemeseder’s probing deconstructions, and Tordini’s melodic bass work. “EWR Hero Saynt”, inspired by Wayne Shorter, dances with a buoyant swing, while “Flight of the Humble Being” unfolds as a tender 3/4 ballad enriched by guest harmonica player Grégoire Maret.
“Unstablemates”, a tribute to Benny Golson that also nods to Speed’s tune “Really OK”, introduces an engaging theme first stated by solo saxophone. With flexibility and assured phrasing, Métrailler develops motifs and sharply articulated lines that define his personal language, while Tordini and McPherson are given room to assert their presence.
Métrailler’s melodic and harmonic ideas appear in the form of passionate curveballs and disruptive tidal waves, evoking a sense of blossoming, possibility, and inner space. Heights Prospection stands as a promising first statement from an emerging saxophonist of notable vision.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Obvious Transmission ► 04 - Jump Loud ► 06 - Unstablemates