Altin Sencalar: Natural Rhythm

Rising trombonist Altin Sencalar has positioned himself at the top of a new generation of trombone virtuosos. The trombone may not have the widespread popularity of its brass brethren, but is nevertheless a deeply compelling and versatile instrument. Sencalar has, over the past decade, proven himself as one of the instrument's finest practitioners. Having studied with, and then worked for, trombone star Michael Dease, he combines deep respect for the instrument's legacy with a raw need to muscle it into a deserved spot in the modern jazz idiom.

Born of both Mexican and Turkish ancestry and having grown up in Texas, Sencalar has, in a fairly short time, developed a rich and diverse discography, with each new release improving on the last. Sencalar's Natural Rhythm, leans heavily into the Mexican side of his heritage (indeed, he was raised mostly by his Mexican mother and her extended family). Natural Rhythm is a blistering, fast-paced exercise in Latin Jazz deliciousness; the title is accurate, as the music is all rhythm. Sencalar successfully takes the tried-and-true Latin Jazz formula, modernizes it just enough to seem fresh while still acknowledging its history, and applies it to both original compositions and standards. The record's sound is also quite big, befitting a musician reared in Texas.

Sencalar is joined on Natural Rhythm by a robust backing band consisting of Dease (this time on baritone saxophone), Alex Norris (trumpet), Sharel Cassity (alto and soprano saxophone, flute), Art Hirahara (piano), Boris Koslov (bass), Gary Kerkezou (drums), and Alex Acuña (percussion). Sencalar takes full advantage of the formidability and explosiveness of the octet while still guiding his fellow musicians through the nuances of the material. Furthermore, while Sencalar's bandmates are not necessarily known for their forays into Latin Jazz, they are nevertheless more than up to the task and navigate the tones, moods, and rhythms of the style brilliantly.

The album begins with Sencalar's version of Wayne Shorter's "One by One," a song played frequently by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers while Shorter was a member. Sencalar effectively transforms the song's traditional big band sound into a catchy, energetic Latin mid-tempo jaunt. Sencalar also took on the lofty task of covering John Coltrane's "Resolution" (Part II of A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1997)), certainly not an easy lift and one that could have yielded disastrous results. Sencalar's take is, especially given the revered nature of the source material, anything but a disaster. Sencalar pulls off the frankly spectacular feat by turning the spiritual opus into a joyous salsa explosion, but without losing any of the original's profundity. Hirohara's piano, in particular, provides great texture for Sencalar's trombone virtuosity, and he has a delightful piano breakdown during the song's bridge.

Sencalar's original compositions, however, are really what distinguish Natural Rhythm. Sencalar is one of jazz's brightest young composers, and his output is even more noteworthy given that he writes for what could be seen as an overshadowed instrument. "Baila de Plena," his tribute to the beat-forward Puerto Rican sub-genre plena, is simply a blast. "Descarga de Dia" contains incredible harmonies of Acuña's timbales blending with Cassity's flute. The bolero "New Life" is a tribute to Sencalar's young daughter, and the song is appropriately tender, emotional and gorgeous.