Ingrid Jensen Quintet At The Jazz Forum

Ingrid Jensen Quintet
The Jazz Forum
Tarrytown, NY
August 24, 2024

Top-tier trumpeter Ingrid Jensen brought her quintet to the Jazz Forum near the Hudson River on August 23 and 24, 2024. Her ensemble included her equally accomplished sister, Christine Jensen, on alto and soprano saxophones

On the second night, this exceptional band opened a strong early set that was reflective of their technical facility and experience together. By the second half of the set, it felt as if each band member had let go of any restraints, playing even more freely and emotionally and merging their distinctive sounds into an elevated musical experience.

The musicians each offered something unique stylistically, making them go-to performers. From the sustained, opening note of the set, Ingrid demonstrated why she has one of the purest trumpet tones around, enhanced by a wisp of vibrato. She is adept at soloing, eyes closed, in rapid bursts while retaining the musicality of her lines.

The trumpeter masterfully used a variety of mutes to achieve subtly different timbres for specific songs. Among these were a straight mute, a cup mute for a more constrained buzz, and a bold blue plunger mute. During the evening's final ballad solo, she continuously shifted the orientation of the plunger two inches from the horn's bell to achieve a shifting sound akin to conversation.

Ingrid and her sister displayed a deep chemistry, swapping motifs back and forth mid-stream. Christine at times phrased her saxophone solos as if they were a sequence of questions, replete with a turn of phrase and an upward pitch bend as part of the query. She would pause momentarily before delivering a lyrical reply.

Pianist Gary Versace served as an intuitive accompanist, with an inclination to insert modal intervals and rapid arpeggios into his solos. He also could lay down a soulful R&B feel. His face lit up when he jammed simultaneously on a Fender Rhodes and Steinway grand.

Bassist Michael Olatuja is known in some circles for his African-influenced and R&B tracks. For this evening, his fingers walked across the neck of his upright in light, yet percussive rhythms.

Drummer Jon Wikan possesses a highly refined musicality that lets him drive rhythms powerfully yet crisply, with emphasis on a cracking snare drum, smooth ride cymbal and deep tom.

Beginning the set finale by playing the toms rhythmically with his fingers, Wikan dropped into an intense solo and ultimately carried the band home with his energy on "Blue Yonder."

Both of the Jensen sisters are skilled composers, and their pieces felt satisfyingly lyrical and complete, even though the melodies weren't something you would hum. Ingrid's "Higher Grounds" broke with traditional harmonies, providing grooves and plenty of harmonic space to let the soloists mold the improvisational landscape.

The uncommon cover songs selected for this performance added spice to the evening. The set opened with the upbeat "Swinging at the Haven," composed by Ellis Marsalis and performed notably by his famous sons. Several tunes later came "Beautiful Old Ladies," a melancholy waltz also popularized by Ellis Marsalis. As the penultimate number, the quintet rendered an inspiring version of "Home," a piece originally recorded by Jim Knapp for big band. Olatuja's bass solo on "Home," followed by the final crescendo of the horns, reminded this reviewer of a blend of Carla Bley with Charles Mingus.

Jensen took a quiet moment to praise iconic guitarist Russell Malone, who passed away this same weekend. She and Versace performed an extemporaneous version of "I'll Be Seeing You," with the trumpeter playing into the grand piano's soundboard and microphone to achieve greater resonance with her duet partner.

By the end of the set's finale, the audience stood immediately on their feet, shouting, having experienced something extra special.

With the performance, the Jazz Forum, in Tarrytown, New York, demonstrated why it has been rated one of the leading jazz venues across the world. The knowledgeable audience, mixed-party seating, warm acoustics, and menu all contribute. The affiliated Jazz Forum Arts organization was at this time wrapping up their free, outdoor, summer concerts along the Hudson River and beginning their jazz appreciation and performance programs for youth.

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