Alex Weiss: Most Don't Have Enough

This album is really special. It doesn't sound like anything else and every song is engaging and interesting. The titles of the songs are also fascinating. Even the collage cover is great and seems to reflect the music.

Tenor saxophonist Alex Weiss started writing Most Don't Have Enough during the pandemic and went deep into writing and practicing. Much of the inspiration came from Chris Speed, as Weiss is a big fan of his writing and his tone. Seven of the nine songs are originals, all very different in sound and style and two are covers—"Really OK" by Chris Speed with a beautiful singsongy melody, and "Humpty Dumpty" by Ornette Coleman.

The songs might be described as a series of melodic themes connected to each other, all meticulously crafted into a greater whole. As a result, there are a lot of varying moods and feelings in each song, keeping the listener on the edge of the seat.

The title of the album, Most People Don't Have Enough, and many of the song titles and themes allude to the unjust qualities of the world, war and politics that have always happened and continue to happen. This is not to say the music is a serious slog—far from it. The songs brim with creative energy, intensity and joy. "Organized Religion" is cacophonous, all over the place, but also highly structured, reflecting both the uplifting and controlling aspects of religion, with a hint of John Zorn's Masada in the mix.

The opening song, "The Leonard Nimoy Method," is an appreciation of the actor's many quirky, weird roles over the years. It's both dramatic and serene, bringing to mind Nimoy's role in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Somewhat sinister, but lots of fun. "Your Dark Shadow Arrives at the Door" announces the arrival of the United States' 45th president. Its ominous tone feels like a direct stab at this era where truth and decency have been turned upside down.

But, as a counterpoint to that, perhaps the most uplifting song on the album (featuring Marta Sánchez on piano), is "Homage to Elijah Cummings." It conveys the sense of a great man carrying on the good fight for justice.

Next, a song based on the fairy tale, "Thumbelina," has the structure of a child's nursery rhyme, child-like and innocent. The penultimate song, "Humpty Dumpty" by Ornette Coleman, is a nursery rhyme with political overtones. Weiss' tenor solo on this one is both childlike and sophisticated and reflects the theme of how power gets too heavy and then crashes under its own weight.

The final song on the album and a highlight of it, "Akira, Sun and Moon," is dedicated to Weiss' son, Akira. It consists of a wide variety of themes, some joyful, some cacophonous, all tied together by a celebratory groove. It also features Marta Sanchez on piano.

Most Don't Have Enough is that rare jazz album that never lags, frequently surprises, and continually delights.

Note: Some of the information about the album and songs came from an interview the reviewer conducted with Alex Weiss.