Josh Sinton: Couloir & Book of Practitioners, Volume 2 (Book W)

Saxophonist Josh Sinton returns once more to the work of Steve Lacy, crafting a two-disc set that bridges meticulous study and spontaneous creation. One disc features interpretations of Lacy's exercises, the other, titled Couloir, presents a series of free improvisations. Lacy (1934—2004), who began his musical journey in Dixieland jazz before becoming a seminal figure in the avant-garde, was among the first to champion the music of Thelonious Monk, translating Monk's piano compositions to soprano saxophone. Perhaps it is a similar spirit that drives Sinton—first with his ensemble Ideal Bread, and now as a solo artist—to reimagine Lacy's soprano saxophone works on the baritone saxophone.

This 2025 release, Couloir & Book of Practitioners, Volume 2 (Book W), continues the path set by Steve Lacy's Book of Practitioners, Vol. 1 "H" (FiP Recordings, 2022) and Sinton's earlier all-improvised solo album b. (FiP Recordings, 2021). His work reveals not just reverence for Lacy's legacy but a deep, hands-on engagement with its technical and expressive possibilities.

Only a true craftsman could coax such a wide spectrum of sounds from the baritone saxophone. Sinton explores the full range of his instrument with an agility and musicality that defies its physical heft. He navigates the precise intricacies of Lacy's études—full of sudden turns, angular intervals, and playful detours—with clarity and enthusiasm, transforming these rigorous studies into vibrant, living music.

On Couloir, the companion disc of improvisations, Sinton offers 15 compact, expressive pieces—call them sonic poems. Each one is a distilled thought, shaped in the moment but grounded in years of discipline. The contrast between the composed and the improvised across the two discs highlights not only Sinton's technical command but his deep curiosity and creative range. With Couloir & Book of Practitioners, Vol. 2: Book W, he affirms himself as both a devoted interpreter and an original voice in contemporary saxophone music.