Noah Preminger

Dry Bridge Road

(Nowt)

There’s a certain sameness to most debut albums by jazz artists: a safe selection of standards along with a couple of originals that showcase the leader’s technical prowess. That’s not the case with Noah Preminger’s first offering, as the tenor saxophonist demonstrates all the qualities of a strong leader on his introductory effort.

Preminger’s playing impresses from the outset. His warm tone and fluid phrasing are flexible enough to shine on a range of material. But what’s most impressive is that Preminger’s compositions are as confident as his playing. They’re a diverse lot, ranging from sweet ballads (“Where Seagulls Fly”) to collective free improv (“Today Is Okay,” “Was It a Rat I Saw?”). Full of oblique melodies and shifting meters, these pieces are sophisticated without being showy. “Luke,” in particular, features an intriguing, twisting melody while remaining loose enough for Preminger, guitarist Ben Monder and pianist Frank Kimbrough to deliver sinewy solo turns.

It helps that his sextet features such heavy hitters, but Preminger doesn’t just give everyone free rein – he uses them thoughtfully. Monder, especially, proves an excellent foil. His airy chords lay the foundation on “A Dream,” a duet performance with Preminger that couldn’t be more different from their rapid-fire unison on “Sax of a Kind.” Preminger also alters the lineup to suit the motif. The fast, free improv “Today Is Okay” drops the piano and guitar in favor of an Ornette Coleman-style setup with trumpeter Russ Johnson. An impressive effort from beginning to end.

-John Frederick Moore