David Larsen: Cohesion

Baritone saxophonist David Larsen has produced one of the finest albums of pure hard bop music on the jazz landscape of today. Cohesion contains a treasure trove of fresh new original material from Larsen and tenor saxophonist Darryl Yokley. Larsen leads the driving, dark and impassioned sounds of hard bop. His pronounced baritone voice is best positioned to convey the pulsating, swinging color found throughout the album. Performing on the baritone is a challenge considering it is the hardest member of the saxophone family to master. Larsen, like Gerry Mulligan, Nick Brignola, Pepper Adamsand others, is an unquestioned master of the instrument and the music, as evidenced by one sampling of this recording.

Based in Spokane, Washington, Larsen frequently travels throughout the country touring and recording. For this project, he decided to collaborate with East Coast musicians Darryl Yokley, pianist Zaccai Curtis, bassist Alex Apollo and drummer Wayne Smith Jr., assembling a formidable and cohesive quintet—hence the title of the album. One indication of how good a recording may be is always the opening salvo and, in this case, the title track and the following "Down to It" kicks off the music with two terrific modal compositions setting the stage for what is to come.

Great melodies are another element of this recording, and "Movement" explores this aspect, inspired by "great pop tunes from the 1960s featuring bassist Apollo, pianist Curtis and superb sounds from the reed section from leader and tenor man Yokley. The two reed men take off on a flight of amazing solos on the sizzling "Wishing Well," which well establishes the hard bop theme of the album. Inspired by the music of the Jazz Messengers with a tip of the hat to New York trombonist John Fedchock, "Fedchock" is yet another hard-swinging number where Larsen lets it all hang out in a performance that clearly defines here who is in charge.

Taken from a previously published big band chart, "Working Things Out" is a rearranged version specifically for this quintet and showcases a lighter more relaxed vibe that still manages to give way a bit as the main hard bop theme seems to surface with pianist Curtis helping to bring out the best of the bop. The last two compositions from saxophonist Yokley, "Mountain Fuji" and "El Duelo," as Larsen states: "remind me of the great Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane compositions," bringing this sparkling session to an end.

Certainly an enjoyable set of jazz with saxophonist David Larsen wielding his baritone like an artist working the canvas knowing he is painting quite a masterpiece. Cohesion is one of those gems one does not find often.