Label: Sunnyside Records, 2022

Personnel - Randal Despommier: alto saxophone; Ben Monder: guitar.

Randal Despommier, an up-and-coming saxophonist born in New Orleans and based in New York, teams up with guitarist Ben Monder in a rich duo album that comprises nine interpretations of tunes by Swedish baritonist Lars Gullin. A Midsummer Odyssey is the second collaboration between the saxophonist and the guitarist, following their involvement in the former’s debut album Dio C’è (Outside in Music, 2021), which was put together in a sextet configuration.

The lead-off track is the peculiarly titled “Toka Voka Oka Boka”, which brings a strong sense of Swedish folk and classical poetry in the melody, an atypical time feel, and a gorgeous rock twang in the texture. The capacity for hooking listeners with their tasteful lyricism is present again on “Danny’s Dream”, a ballad written for Gullin’s son, which, despite being more conventional in sound, is subjected to a lush harmonization by Monder. It was thanks to this piece that Despommier first had contact with Gullin’s music in 2005 while studying in Perugia, Italy.

The rubato minor mood of “Mazurka” strikes a perfect balance of wistfulness and comfort. The original piece, included in Gullin’s 1974 album Bluesport, was partly inspired by Chopin. The beautiful sense of melody and storytelling continues with “Dyningar”, a shimmering waltz with an occasional understated touch of bossa nova in the solo guitar section. This Brazilian-derived style is taken further by the radiant “I Min Smala Sang”, which was originally written to accompany a poem by Dutch-born Swedish troubadour Cornelis Vreeswijk.

“I Hope It’s Spring For You” is another well known tune in Sweden due to its linkage to a popular TV series for which it was written. Charlie Parker’s common-law wife, Chan Parker, wrote the lyrics in the ‘70s, but this instrumental version verges on the balladic side, consistent with Monder’s textural moves and Despommier’s sailing facility over the tranquil harmonic seas. The duo also brings their finely-honed telepathy into “Igloo”, whose theme is played in bright unison with some descendant triplets in a fully-colored swinging jazz style. There's more incantation than agitation here.

Despite their distinct personalities, Despommier and Monder pair up very well as they take on the chosen Gullin repertoire with acumen and serenity.