Martin Iaies, featuring Klaus Gesing: People, Places

As though being a spendid jazz guitarist, composer and arranger were not enough, Argentina-born, Austria-based bass guitarist Martin Iaies was savvy enough to invite renowned woodwind artist Klaus Gesing to sit in on three numbers on Iaies' 2026 recording, People, Places.

Iaies ushers an 11-member ensemble—not quite a big band, but fairly close—through its paces on eight of his engaging and lyrical compositions, neatly tailored to suit a group of that size and makeup. Gesing plays alto sax on the melodious Argentine folk song, "Zamba del Chaguanco," and solemn "Critical Loss of Hope" (the album's "bonus" track), bass clarinet on "In an Unknown Mood."

Iaies solos on the first two numbers, "Graz" (a heartfelt salute to his new home) and "Delfina's Way" (written for a younger sister), and once more on "In an Unknown Mood" (for the record, he plays electric guitar the way it should be, channeling an abundance of clarity and perception). Other soloists are trumpeter Miloš Kostár ("Graz"); trumpeter Zan Cesar ("Delfina's Way"); flugel Jordi Roviró and drummer Andreas Reisenhofer ("Zamba del Chaguanco"); alto Alana Macpherson and pianist Thomas Quendler ("18/5"); Kostar and bassist Maximilian Kreuzer ("El Donny," written when Iaies learned he was to be a father).

Good as the soloists are—and they are quite good indeed—it is Iaies' trim and melodious charts that carry the day, though they lean almost toward the even-tempered, a trait that is for the most part overridden by deep harmonic shadings. Iaies wrests the greatest possible mileage from every one of them, emphasizing the color and charm of the ensemble while lending each soloist a dependable framework upon which to improvise.

In sum, a splendid all-around design and performance by Iaies and his almost-big band. Adding Gesing's laudable alto and bass clarinet, even if only on three numbers, marks another clear-cut advantage.