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
Theirs cover

Theirs

Thumbscrew
Divine Love cover

Divine Love

Wadada Leo Smith
Urban Bushmen cover

Urban Bushmen

Art Ensemble of Chicago
Big Fun cover

Big Fun

Miles Davis
Soul of Things cover

Soul of Things

Tomasz Stańko Quartet
Wisdom of Elders cover

Wisdom of Elders

Shabaka & the Ancestors
The Impulse Story cover

The Impulse Story

Alice Coltrane
Lontano cover

Lontano

Tomasz Stańko Quartet