Label: ECM Records, 2022

Personnel - Oded Tzur: tenor saxophone; Nitai Hershkovits: piano; Petros Klampanis: double bass; Johnathan Blake: drums.

The Israeli-born, New York-based saxophonist Oded Tzur touts a carefully constructed musical style that comes with both elegance and a personal touch. His focused horn sound shaped with timbral grace can be heard on the five tracks of Isabela, the follow up to his ECM debut Here Be Dragons. Tzur is in command of a qualified quartet whose lineup remains unchanged since his last album, featuring Israeli pianist Nitai Hershkovits, Greek bassist Petros Klampanis and American drummer Johnathan Blake. They blend jazz and raga with a unique perspective.

The brief “Invocations” kicks off the recording with a spiritual undercurrent that feels like a big, warm hug of welcome. This makes for a fantastic Chalan-like intro, where it’s impossible to ignore the effective mallet art and kick-drum work of Blake. Yet, “Noam” and “Love Song For the Rainy Season” are where the album really shines. Inspiringly, the former piece offers an enchanting melody over a soothing chordal sequence, immersing us in a liberating jazz-raga dance where the tenor reaches a certain hoarse splendor. At a later time, the trills and half-tone shifting roundabouts infused by Hershkovits create a bit more mystery before the group reinstates the main statement. The latter piece is the one that closes out the album, carrying a lightness and breeziness throughout a process that, besides changing meter during the motivic piano solo, also includes drum expansion and winding saxophone trajectories.

The gracious “The Lion Turtle” dissimulates an intricate tempo while boasting a strong folk feel. It counts on a trio of ad-lib sections under the melodic control of Klampanis, Hershkovits, and Tzur. The saxophonist also brings his beautiful sense of melody to the fore on the slow-evolving title track, which, starting as a quiet whisper, is marked by interesting piano details and sensitive brushwork.

This affable jazz recording is sculpted with a detached elegance that never gets the music too heated. Hence, you can expect introspection and poised tones to override energy-filled rhythms or grooves. That said, it all sounds organically pleasurable and the saxophonist’s playing is very special indeed.

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Noam ► 03 - The Lion Turtle ► 05 - Love Song For the Rainy Season

Label: ECM Records, 2020

Personnel - Oded Tzur: tenor saxophone; Nitai Hershkovitz: piano; Petros Klampanis: double bass; Johnathan Blake: drums.

The elegant jazz of Tel Aviv-born, New York-based saxophonist Oded Tzur is fully reflected on his new album Here Be Dragons. The newcomer joins the ECM label, playing alongside Israeli pianist Nitai Hershkovitz, Greek bassist Petros Klampanis and American drummer Johnathan Blake. The quartet takes us into a deeply connected, reflecting, and moving journey, crystallizing their sounds into empathic rhythmic textures with a preference for soft and minimalist raga-inspired practices rather than any sort of fiery streaks.

The title track opens the album with spacious surroundings and a velvety touch. The whole instrumental body breathes and appreciatory emotions wrap the listener in a well-balanced luminous placidity. Bass and saxophone conclude this tune and also initiate the following track, “To Hold Your Hand”, where Hershkovitz’s lyricism comes to the foreground through delicate yet nimble movements. The wonderful rhythmic tapestry that arises from Klampanis’ airy bass notes and Blake’s intimate brushwork produces the desired effect, widening even stronger ramifications on the nostalgic “20 Years”, which was composed by Tzur on the 20th anniversary of his father’s death. The latter composition denotes a beautiful melody set against the simpatico foundation built by the rhythm team. At once pensive and sympathetic, the unostentatious bandleader narrates the story with feeling and poise.

Erupting with a more intense rhythmic pull in six, “The Dream” advances like a liberating proclamation with contrapuntal piano accompaniment. It feels great to be caught by a bolder pulsating drive when your ears were already shaped to a certain cozy, melancholic atmosphere. This selfless approach to music is deeply rewarding in its gracious nature, except for the closer, a tepid take on “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, a romantic pop song popularized by Elvis Presley in the early 60’s, whose lack of novelty fails to achieve something special.

Put in sequence, there is a triad of brief “Miniature” pieces, each of them showcasing sober solo statements from piano, bass, and saxophone.

Working on hushed dynamics with soulful resplendence, Tzur and his quartet mates create some sweet moments of rare sensibility. This is a promising first ECM outing for him.

Favorite tracks:
01 - Here Be Dragons ► 03 - 20 Years ► 07 - The Dream