Bernie Senensky: Moment to Moment

Bernie Senensky is a nuanced and adaptable pianist. Throughout his career he has shown an unparalleled improvisational approach to the material he chooses that crosses borders and generations. In this current release, entitled Moment to Moment, the music comes from two performance opportunities, from 2001 and 2020, and is anchored simultaneously historically and from the future. Joining Senensky in this back-to-the-future encounter are tenor saxophonist {[Eric Alexander}}, bassists Kieran Overs and Dave Young, as well as drummers Joe Farnsworth and Morgan Childs.

The eight-tune track list for this release is a cornucopia of original music from Senensky and Alexander, plus a couple of well-known popular standards from the American Songbook. The opening track is Senensky's "Alexander's Realtime Band, " a play of words on the title of Irving Berlin's 1911 composition "Alexander's Ragtime Band." The similarity ends there, as Senensky and Eric Alexander weave up-tempo bebop lines filled with complex chord and harmonic changes which stamp their exemplary improvisational skills. The follow-up is Kurt Weill's "Speak Low," wherein Young and Childs accompany Senensky and Alexander. Everyone is on their game in this extended fifteen-plus minutes take as they explore the unexpected corners of the composition, with Alexander proving to be a tenor saxophonist grounded in textured exploration. Senensky's solos are brimming with ideas and energy. Young's bass excursion is filled with muscular proficiency, and Childs shows he is a pugnacious and resourceful drummer.

The title track "Moment to Moment" is a Johnny Mercer composition which is given a moody reading. Alexander's tenor saxophone leads off with an approach full of subtly and curiosity, and his line is picked up by Senensky, whose solo is replete with evocative coloration. "Blues for E.J." is a Senensky chart enhanced by the Young and Childs rhythmic duo, who are well-versed in the nuances of swing. Senensky, a pianist of proficiency and modernity, and Alexander, who has a distinct tone and tireless technique, deliver solos filled with expressive energy and expansive vision.

The lone Eric Alexander composition in this recital, "Stand Pat," is a dedication to guitar great Pat Martino in whose bands Alexander played. In this crackerjack performance, Alexander is technically outstanding, with an unimpeded clarity of attack. Senensky unleashes his dextrous technique which raises the hair on the back of the neck. This recording shows that a meaningful career can be filled with rich contributions of notable jazz recordings and performances from moment to moment.

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