Kathrine Windfeld Sextet: Aldebaran

Danish composer, arranger and pianist Kathrine Windfeld is held in high regard as the leader of her contemporary big band, having released four albums to international acclaim. She also works with other band formats, including the Kathrine Windfeld Sextet. Aldebaran is her debut recording with the sextet and is named after one of the stars in the Taurus constellation. The band consists of leading young musicians from Scandinavia and Poland.

Windfeld, who has collaborated with artists of the calibre of Immanuel Wilkins, Mike Stern, and Gilad Hekselman, has composed and arranged the eight tracks on the album. Joining her are Hannes Bennich on alto and soprano saxophones, trumpeter Tomasz Dabrowski, tenor saxophonist Marek Konarski, bassist Johannes Vaht and drummer Henrik Holst Hansen.

The album begins with Windfeld's piano vamp on "First Speech." As the others join, it is apparent that her skills for large ensemble arrangements have been carried over into the smaller format. The horns surge and eddy in waves around her melodic piano, leading to some fine solos in a terrific opening track. Saxophones and trumpet build a sense of urgency and tension in the title track. In the smaller setting, Windfeld's piano has more prominence, her melodic solo sets up Bennich and Konarski's inventive contributions.

The subtle ballad "Burnout" changes pace with gentle piano, brushwork and gently swaying sax phrases. "Jupiter" features a complex rhythmic structure, with the opening drama showing the way to Vaht's expressive bass solo. Urgent piano and thrashing drums then lead to a sparkling climax with Bennich, Konarski and Dabrowski trading phrases.

Dabrowski's trumpet is impressive on the moody "Sea Window" as it floats along with neat interplay, revealing more with each listen. Hansen and Vaht (both members of Windfeld's big band) provide a solid rhythmic drive for the improvisations on "Offroad Excursions." Windfeld brings European classical compositional ideas into the poetic and gently swaying "Letter to Lviv" as the horns intertwine to close the album.

Offering intensity, subtlety, fine solos and precise sextet playing, this album overflows with creativity and refinement. Windfeld revels in the freedom and flexibility that the smaller band format brings. She will inevitably have comparisons with Maria Schneider, but she has a distinctive voice both in her arrangements and in her piano style, which succeeds in standing out while remaining in harmony with the others.