Kevin Sun: Quartets

Sometimes, talent calls out, other times, it is acknowledged with a nod. For saxophonist and composer Kevin Sun, both are obvious. The mastery of his instrument is a given; it is just that his music is never flashy or overindulgent, thus the nod. That fact is evident in previous discs on his Endectomorph Music label; the live trio recording The Fate Odyssey The Tenor (2023), 3 Bird (2021), (Un)Seaworthy (2020) and The Sustain Of Memory (2019). Sun's growing discography is evidence of a dynamic musician with a thirsty mind.

Unsurprisingly, Quartets is no exception. The two-disc release features two separate lineups, with both only sharing the same bassist, Walter Stinson.

The first disc finds the tenor saxophonist with his longtime associates, pianist Dana Saul, drummer Matt Honor and Stinson. The compositions and ensemble performance are the central focus here. "Dance Notation" applies a Philip Glass-esque procession over a disciplined arrangement. The quartet performs a mini-suite "Far East Western (Prelude)/Far East Western" followed by the ballad "Shadows Over the Sea." Both tracks feature some bewitching piano from Saul, and we get a gentle and lilting demonstration of Sun's command over his horn. Ditto for Sun on disc two with his cover of Lerner and Lowe's "On The Street Where You Live." Sun and Stinson are joined by pianist Christian Li and drummer Kayvon Gordon playing in a more open style. The performances swing harder: "That Lights A Star" and "tbh." Sun displays his trademark wit with the clever bookended compositions "Heideggerdashian" and "Kierkegaardashian" both twisted limerick-like performances. Sun has talents on permanent loan from, let us say the solar deity.