Sam Gendel: Cookup

Saxophonist Sam Gendel has sent out an invitation to an unusual sonic Cookup. So what is he serving? Who will be there? Will beat poets merge with experimental musicians in a smoky jazz grotto? Will it be a cryptic musical labyrinth or a collection of meandering songs? Is it a transcription of ancient African organic rhythms or something more modern?

The answer is elusive and, by design, a moving target. There are bits and pieces of all the above, yet the improvisational signposts point to jazz at its most experimental. Not in the free form Albert Ayler meets Ornette Coleman sense but more in keeping with the esoteric musings found on many of the ambient recordings released by ECM Records. Saxophonist and leader Gendel deliberately charts his own course and, if he is referring to any type of musical map, he is not letting us in on the coordinates as he wanders into uncharted territory. Sonic twists and turns flow from his acoustic saxophone (as well as electronic wind controllers) forming quirky soundscapes that may well have been inspired by previous innovators including Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk and others.

This collection is ostensibly rooted in early '90s / mid-2000s R&B and soul songs but good luck following the sonic breadcrumbs to the supposed original source. Both Gendel and bassist Gabe Noel play several instruments while drummer Philippe Melanson also brings various electronic percussion instruments to the party. Previous recordings by this South-Central Los Angeles-based saxophonist were released in the late 2010s which helped Gendel methodically build a growing base of inquisitive fans and curiosity seeking audiophiles. People began to pay attention. One of Gendel's previous Spotify tracks (when he teamed up with his symbiotic soulmate bassist Sam Wilkes) has been streamed approximately two million times while another piece Gendel which participated in had substantially more views.

Throughout Cookup, Gendel emits soft, floating notes which seem to morph from sound into smoke. Melodies are faintly adhered to as he casually drifts from track to track. There is a pair of vocal-infused numbers at the start of the disc which seamlessly bleed into each other while, a moment later, "I Swear," is a nod to soundtrack magicians such as Ennio Morricone meets Angelo Badalamenti . A ghostly 'Man with No Name' seems to make a guest appearance before the track surreptitiously merges with "Candy Rain." There are times when listeners may feel as if they are eavesdropping on someone else's hushed conversation but, as any eavesdropping expert knows, that is when they tend to listen more intently to make sure they do not miss anything.

What Gendel ultimately presents is the continuation of his quest for sounds which dwell just off center while cross pollinating those sounds with a vast pool of influences. There are certainly elements of the supple, relaxed jazz which several jazz saxophone veterans from the late '50s / early '60s presented. In addition, Gendel has interacted with hip hop artists in the past. He was in a funk band which opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Improvisational jams populate the disc. So, when one gets to the Cookup, it is time to savor the various offerings from Gendel.