Christine Jensen: Day Moon

Christine Jensen has been described by jazz writer Mark Miller of The Globe and Mail as "one of the most important Canadian composers of her generation." Jensen grew up in Nanaimo, British Columbia with the likes of tenor saxophonist Phil Dwyer and pianist & vocalist Diana Krall but is now based in Montreal, Quebec. She originally went to that city to attend McGill University from which she received her first degree in jazz performance in 1994 and, subsequently, a Masters Degree in that same discipline in 2006. Over the intervening years, as her career developed, she has collaborated with such talented individuals as pianist Geoffrey Keezer, saxophonist Donny McCaslin and her sister, the New York-based trumpeter Ingrid Jensen.

In this small form outing, Jensen is accompanied by her trusted and supportive colleagues, pianist Steve Amirault, acoustic bassist Adrian Vedady and drummer Jim Doxas. As for many other artists, from all kinds of disciplines, the turbulent times of the Covid pandemic brought the band closer together and built a camaraderie which manifests itself in this recording.

The compositions on this session are all by Christine Jensen with the exception of "Balcony Rules" in which Amirault was a co-writer, and "Like in Love" where Amirault did all the writing, and Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day." The opening, title track, "Day Moon," was inspired by Jensen seeing a full moon as the sun was rising. It is filled with an oblique intensity; Jensen investigates the material with inquisitiveness, as the rhythm section provides unwavering support.

The thematic center piece of the album is "Quiescence Suite" which was commissioned by the Jazz Coalition of New York. It has four sections: Lined/Twenty Twenty Blues/Tolos D'Abril/Étude De Mars. This suite is ambitious in concept, texture and tempo, as Jensen covers the themes on either alto or soprano saxophone which she plays with unflappable authority. Although pianist Amirault does not have a lot to do, he plays with a fluid technique when given the opportunity. Here's That Rainy Day" is a duo between Jensen and Amirault, along with two subsequent tracks including "Balcony Rules" (a contrafact built on "What Is This Thing Called Love") and "Girls Can Play The Blues." It is evident from the opening notes of each number that the interplay between the two has an expressiveness and articulation which is built on trust, and an understanding that each has a judicious technical command of their instrument.