Label: Self released, 2026

Personnel - Sean Imboden: tenor and soprano saxophone, composer.

Last year, on Communal Heart, his debut album with a 17-piece large ensemble, shrewd Indiana-based composer and saxophonist Sean Imboden demonstrated impressive command as an orchestrator. Now he continues to explore expansive big-band writing with Uncharted Realms, which he describes as an invitation to envision better possibilities in our world—expressing a longing for connection, understanding, purpose, and safety.

The album opens with “Flowing Currents”, an anthemic, chamber-like piece layered with stimulating motifs that elevate the ensemble’s collective energy. Originally written for a smaller group, it features Imboden (on tenor) and rock-leaning guitarist Joel Tucker as soloists, both offering glimpses of their distinct voices within a gradual emotional crescendo. The pair also ride powerful waves of improvisation on “When You Look Beyond”, where the energy skyrockets via marching snare authority and an epic-ness that stems from remarkably coordinated contrapuntal passages, allowing contrasting timbres to emerge with clarity and intent.

Imboden gravitates toward rich, thoughtful jazz sonorities, avoiding cliché while crafting detailed and engaging soundscapes. “Balcony”, composed nearly a decade ago and continually refined, exemplifies this approach. Bassist Nick Tucker establishes a firm pedal point over which classically influenced gestures unfold. A seven-beat passage transitions into a sultry, tango-tinged section that frames the theme, opening space for expressive contributions from trombonist Zac Granger and Imboden on soprano. The closing track, “Follow the Kite”, offers a feel-good contrast, propelled by brushes, bass, and guitar in a relaxed flow, with bass clarinet subtly emerging from the texture. Despite its breezy surface, the piece tightens into punchy counterpoint, incorporating lush volleys within occasionally shifting meters.

“The Gentle Giant” revolves around a nuanced six-beat pattern that anchors the bass line. This adventurous piece—partly inspired by Philip Glass and Stravinsky—explores shifting dynamics and features flugelhornist John Raymond in a performance that is both serene and impassioned.

Imboden’s contemporary vision unfolds with clarity and creativity, reflecting a composer who understands how to draw the best from his ensemble. Uncharted Realms is another ambitious and cohesive musical statement.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Flowing Currents ► 03 - When You Look Beyond ► 05 - Follow the Kite

Label: Self released, 2025

Personnel - Sean Imboden: tenor and soprano saxophone, composition, direction // Woodwinds: Matt Pivec (alto, soprano, flute); LaMont Webb (alto, flute); Mark O'Connor (tenor, soprano); Cecily Terhune (tenor); Evan Drybread (baritone, bass clarinet) // Brass: Clark Hunt, John Raymond, Scott Belk, Kent Hickey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Tucker Woerner, Andrew Danforth, Chaz Rhodes (trombone) // Rhythm Section: Chris Pitts (piano); Joel Tucker (guitar); Rich Dole, Nick Tucker (bass); Cassius Goens (drums).

Indianapolis-based saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Sean Imboden returns to creative music after years playing in Broadway shows and touring. His 18-piece large ensemble, assembled in 2017, demonstrates remarkable cohesion in five original tracks brimming with bold ideas.

Communal Heart, whose title pays homage to the band itself and its origins, opens with the swirling, kaleidoscopic “Fire Spirit”, whose sense of urgency and striking energy is palpable in its straight eight feel. The dynamics shift throughout, veering into soaringly atmospheric passages before becoming richly cinematic. The solos feature trumpeter John Raymond, followed by Imboden on tenor, who declaims graciously over layers of woodwinds and brass, supported by a funky guitar strut as rhythmic foundation.

“Dance Inquiry” is a breezy folk dance in five, spotlighting Imboden’s woody soprano sound alongside trombonist Andrew Danforth, while “Someone to Watch Over Us”, featuring Matt Pivec on alto saxophone, offers a hopeful response to the tumultuous political times we live in today, with finely layered sounds.

The challenges of following a creative musical path are numerous, but so are the rewards. Two pieces where that sensation is evident are “Certified Organic”, which, adhering to the fusion’s genre mentality and boosted by guitarist Joel Tucker’s fantastic sound and articulation, feels like a boost of vitamins; and “Portal Passage”, a Dave Holland-like number in seven, offering shifting moods for the soloists—in this case tenorist Mark O’Connor, pianist Chris Pitts, and a conjoint operation by baritonist Evan Drybread and trumpeter Kent Hickey. It concludes with a beautiful solo piano section.

For Imboden, the transformative experience of opening himself to new scenarios yields productive results, as carefully selected elements overlap and intersect to form colorful patterns. This is a solid big band jazz release that confirms Imboden as an interesting composer to follow.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Fire Spirit ► 03 - Certified Organic ► 05 - Portal Passage