UASSYN: Zacharya - Jazz Thing Next Generation Vol. 87

This young Swiss saxophone trio spawns a democratic effort where each musician stands out as a contributor throughout the rather brief (32- minutes) timeframe. Thus, no one hogs the limelight from a holistic viewpoint. Moreover, the press release states that, "Now Uassyn is taking their long overdue next step and recorded their debut album "Zacharya" for the 87th release of Jazz Thing Next Generation. Its music, which resembles an independent language—which is why the band name is also an invented word—is bursting with energy and vitality..." Indeed, the trio's trajectory is largely kinetic.

They launch the festivities on "Zacharya" via the rhythm section's pounding intro, leading to Tapiwa Svosve's fluent alto sax soloing within a loosely based thematic construction amid a no-nonsense manifesto, cresting to imagery of a bulldozer hitting 70mph on a freeway and swerving across the lanes, all within a free bop vein. However, the band does temper the flow during various exploratory movements interspersed throughout the program. But on "Dji-ut" they mix it up due to Vincent Glanzmann's scrappy drum work, Jeger's anchoring lines and the saxophonist's angular improv statements. However, the musicians use space as an additive so the listener can fully digest the proceedings, as the artists inject mini themes stitched into a maze of sorts. Here, the trio raises the bar, spearheaded by Svosve's cyclical patterns, segueing into the free realm with tornadic force while scaling to zeniths, and followed by a slow hike into a valley.

The final track,'Kheretem," commences with each performer using bells and summoning a world music vibe while they carve out a tribal motif until Glanzmann switches back to drums and lays out a dense polyrhythmic solo where the band reconvenes into a fire and brimstone styled attack. Overall, this presentation provides thrills a minute. Perhaps next time out the trio will expand its presentation into a full-length outing, providing an eager audience with a little more goodness.