Resurrecting the Amber Sky

Ize Trio
Duration: 04:39

The Ize Trio is truly something special. Pianist Chase Morrin, cellist Naseem Alatrash and percussionist and drumset player George Lernis bring to the table rich influences from their homelands--the U.S., Cyprus and Palestine, respectively. They banded together during an exploratory program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. The result is a nuanced blend of composed chamber jazz, engaging counterpoint and improvisation, Middle Eastern melodic slurs plus shifting meters and emphasis.

Building on several musical awards, ambassadorial roles and grants, their album first full-length project, The Global Suites, was released in 2024. Part I of the piece “Resurrecting the Amber Sky” demonstrates not only how engaging the performances are but also how seamlessly woven the compositional fabric is. Perhaps as noteworthy, their implicit message about empathy and action regarding world immigration urgencies is perfectly timed. Listen for guest bassist John Patitucci’s interplay with cellist Alatrash, as well as the entrancing wordless vocals by Farayi Malek and Heiraza.

Posted by Scott Lichtman.