Saturn Sings cover

Saturn Sings

Released

On her second studio album as a leader, guitarist Mary Halvorson expands her trio with bassist John Hébert and drummer Ches Smith to a quintet, adding trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson and saxophonist Jon Irabagon (here playing alto). The numbered series of compositions that she began on 2008’s Dragon’s Head continues here with pieces 11 through 20. Her winding melodies and off-kilter rhythmic sense — Hébert and Smith skitter around like mice exploring a kitchen — are still present, but richer than ever; “Mile High Like (No. 16)” has a Latin feel with some Ornette Coleman thrown in, while “Sequential Tears in It (No. 20)” is a somber trio ballad that gives the bass a lot of room to explore. The horns are a very welcome addition — Finlayson’s solos in particular are beautiful, but when they’re both playing Halvorson’s melodies in unison, they have an almost soulful romanticism.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
White Light/White Heat cover

White Light/White Heat

The Velvet Underground
Radiotree cover

Radiotree

Klaus Paier, radio.string.quartet.vienna
Fire Illuminations cover

Fire Illuminations

Wadada Leo Smith, Orange Wave Electric
Live in Japan cover

Live in Japan

John Coltrane
Racing a Butterfly cover

Racing a Butterfly

Anne Mette Iversen Quartet +1
Strange Strings cover

Strange Strings

Sun Ra & His Astro-Infinity Arkestra
Nonaah cover

Nonaah

Roscoe Mitchell