Melissa Pipe Sextet: Of What Remains

On the enchanting Of What Remains, her debut as a leader, Canadian saxophonist and bassoonist Melissa Pipe delightfully blurs the boundaries between jazz and western classical music. Pipe leads a cohesive sextet on seven of her haunting originals, on the theme of time, and an arrangement of Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits' "Puudutus."

For instance, "La Part Des Anges" opens with Pipe playing the main motif on her airy bassoon, with support from drummer Mili Hong's effervescent beats. After the hypnotic refrains set a mystical ambience, Pipe switches to baritone saxophone and, together with trumpeter Lex French, she plays a darkly lyrical duet which sets the stage for multi-reed player and producer Philippe Cote's eloquent tenor saxophone solo. The overlapping horns, with their warm glow and burnished tones, create a cinematic mood, one which pianist Geoff Lapp enhances with his shimmering chords.

Pipe proves her mettle as a composer on such tracks as "Ici, Ainsi" which features guest contrabassoonist Michael Sundell. Hong's rolling cadence softly roars as the winds blow long lines laden with intrigue. After the intro, the tune takes on bluesy hints with a laid back simmering dialogue between French and Côté. Sundell brings a unique sound to the ensemble like a silvery thread through an indigo colored backdrop. The languid refrains construct a soulful and dramatic atmosphere, and conclude on a contemplative note.

Bassist Solon McDade's pensive con arco phrases, which start off the subsequent "Fragment No. 2," form the perfect bridge between the two pieces. McDade also extemporizes with elegance followed by a melancholic dialogue between Pipe and Côté. The exquisite layering of various instruments is nocturnesque in its feel and orchestral in its organization. Yet a restless dynamism permeates the performance primarily due to its inherent spontaneity.

With this stimulating and enjoyable album Pipe demonstrates the full breadth of her versatility and creative brilliance. If Of What Remains is any indication she is on the verge of a promising career and a musician to watch in the ensuing few years.