Erena Terakubo A Time for Love (Cellar Live)
Featured on Spring 2016 JAZZIZ On Disc (Disc One)
When Phil Woods and Vincent Herring sing your praises, you might just have a bright future as a jazz saxophonist. Of course, those two heavyweights aren’t the only ones who’ve recognized the saxophonic gifts of Erena Terakubo. The Japanese-born musician was also awarded a prestigious Presidential Scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Boston; recorded her first album in 2010 at age 18 with Kenny Barron, Peter Bernstein and Christian McBride; and followed it up with two more recordings, both featuring Barron, as well as Ron Carter, Lenny White and Jimmy Cobb. For her latest CD, A Time for Love (Cellar Live), the New York City-based Terakubo intersperses a sturdy set of tunes by the likes of Tadd Dameron, Duke Ellington and mentor/album producer Herring with a couple of her own outstanding compositions, both of which prove album highlights. The altoist’s lithe yet substantial tone remains the centerpiece of “Golden Oolong Tea,” our selection, as she confidently rides the brisk and thrilling rhythms provided by pianist David Hazeltine, bassist David Williams and drummer Lewis Nash. This tea is most definitely caffeinated.