Julieta Eugenio: Jump

Listening to saxophonist Julieta Eugenio on the engaging Jump it is hard to believe this is only her debut. Her confident playing, warm, brassy tone and intelligent, spontaneous ideas belie her relative youth. Eugenio penned most of the music on Jump, so the release also showcases her superlative compositional skills. The poetic, loose-knit originals are perfectly suited to a trio with ample room for both individual expressions and collective performances.

The taut and intriguing "Efes" opens the album on a high note. Eugenio builds the melody and embellishes it with short crystalline phrases which captivate with their dark shimmer and move with their simmering passion. Drummer Jonathan Barber drives the tense ensemble interplay with his understated yet commanding cadence.

The undulating, nocturnesque, title track opens with Eugenio's mellifluous refrains. The rhythm duo's spare vamps frame them to haunting effect. The leader then eases into an intricate extemporization which meanders thrillingly far from the main theme without losing its lyricism. Bassist Matt Dwonszyk follows with an equally eloquent and contemplative solo which underscores the warmth of the tune.

Elsewhere, Barber and Eugenio engage in an exciting duet on the exuberant "Snowbirds." Barber's thunderous beats complement Eugenio's muscular tenor. Dwonszyk anchors the effervescent piece with his lithe and agile lines.

Eugenio also excels at balladry as demonstrated on the cover of "Crazy He Calls Me." Dwonszyk starts off the piece with hypnotic and sparse reverberations. Eugenio enters with a wistful and emotive improvisation which deconstructs the standard inventively and with reverence. She stretches out elegantly, with her resonant saxophone building an intimate and lovelorn ambience which does plenty of justice to the source material.

Eugenio studied music both in her native Argentina and in the USA and has been honing her skills in New York's jazz scene for a handful of years. This remarkably mature freshman effort is a testament both to her unique talent and her artistic dedication. Hopefully it is only the first step into a brilliant future.

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