Jure Pukl & Matija Dedić: Hybrid

New York-based Slovenian saxophonist Jure Pukl and Croatian pianist Matija Dedić team-up with quartet completed by Matt Brewer on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums for an exciting set recorded in NYC in May 2016. Pukl has collaborated with the likes of Branford Marsalis, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Dave Liebman and Vijay Iyer and Dedić's has performed with artists including Larry Grenadier, John Hollenbeck and Jeff Ballard.

There's some incendiary tenor saxophone from co-leader Jure Pukl on the breezy opening title track "Hybrid," but it's contrasted by the slower-paced, labyrinthine "Where Are You Coming From And Where Are You Going?" with Pukl now on soprano. "Sequence II" and "Family" benefit from the addition of the Chilean born guest tenor saxophonist, Melissa Aldana, the two saxophones complementing each other perfectly, particularly on the former track where the tenors weave around each other alternately in unison and harmony. Whilst most of the tracks are originals written by either Pukl or Dedić, the inclusion of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" is an opportunity for Pukl to offer a prayer-like bass clarinet rendition of the timeless classic accompanied by Dedić on dulcet piano.

The hard bop of Dedić's "Hempburger" provides a naturally swinging environment for Pukl to shine on tenor whilst "False Accusations" and the ballad "Spinning Thoughts" are beautifully-crafted pieces. This excellent follow-up to the saxophonist's 2014 album The Life Sound Pictures of Jure Pukl clearly demonstrates that he has arrived at peak maturity. Additionally, the recording clearly benefits from Matija Dedić's input and the respective contributions of this team of highly talented musicians.