The Empress: Square One

The Empress is a New York City-based co-op septet whose front line consists of four saxophonists. Based on its title, the assumption is that Square One is the group's first recording as a unit. The Empress is the idea of award-winning saxophonist Pureum Jin, who enlisted the renowned German writer and saxophonist Michael Lutzeier to arrange ten of the album's eleven durable and decisive numbers and recruited a trio of all-star saxophonists to share the stage and lend their awesome talents to the enterprise.

Jin's teammates are alto saxophonist Erena Terakubo, tenor Chelsea Baratz and baritone Lauren Sevian. Jin plays soprano and alto saxophones. The foursome is ably reinforced by pianist Steve Ash, bassist Joey Ranieri and drummer Pete Van Nostrand. The ensemble thunders from the starting gate with Lutzeier's fiery "Instant Composure" (a.k.a. "The Song Is You"), on which there is no misreading anyone's fearless intentions or formidable chops. The Gershwin brothers' "But Not for Me" is given a brisk and earnest ride, as is Juan Tizol's well-traveled "Caravan."

Three tracks in hand, three blockbusters—and the group is only getting warmed up. After pausing for breath to enfold a rare but welcome ballad, Matt Dennis and Tom Adair's sorrowful "Everything Happens to Me" (marvelously arranged by Jin), everyone shifts to high gear again to recap Cedar Walton's sunny "Bolivia" and Benny Golson's handsome "Stablemates." John Coltrane's gentle "Mr. Syms" precedes two more jazz benchmarks—Horace Silver's melodic "Nica's Dream" and John Lewis' limber "Milestones"—before the ensemble wraps the trim and stylish package with Lutzeier's graceful "Reminiscing" and Oliver Nelson's dapper and bluesy "Yearnin.'"

About the highest compliment one can bestow on The Empress and Square One is that these four saxophonists—and their supporting cast —are so consistently strong and persuasive that a brass section is scarcely missed and in fact may seem superfluous. Here's hoping Square Two is as inevitable as it is wished for.