Michael Sarian’s New Aurora

  In my imaginary hunt for the widest range of material on an album of improvised music, we have a new contender in the beautiful music of Michael Sarian’s New Aurora. The disc opens with the calm and deeply soulful medley of Dle Yaman and Portrait of a Postman. The first theme was composed by Komitas, an Armenian priest (1869-1935) was also a pioneering ethnomusicologist. The second is Sarian’s own wispy melody. At the end of the album is a sly duet by Sarian and pianist Santiago Leibson as they dig into Ask Me Now, composed by Thelonious Monk, frequently described as the High Priest of Bebop. (Hmm, maybe it’s not that much of a stretch after all.) In between are 7 more originals by Sarian plus Chinar Es, another composition by Komitas. Sarian is ably abetted by Leibson at the piano, Marty Kenney on bass (replaced on two tracks by Matt Pavolka), and Dayeon Seok behind the drums. Particularly fine are Aurora, the gentle ballad that gives the band its name, Primo, the uptempo wailer that follows, and the complex Scottie (33), which the quartet negotiates with understated authority. Sarian, with his crystal-clear tone and impressive technique, is an adept and thoughtful improviser. The fine audio engineering is by co-producer (with Sarian) Luis Bacque, who also recorded the recent Diego Urcola CD. The result is that the clarity of the arrangements and tight interactions of the musicians are fully revealed on this thoroughly enjoyable CD. Recommended. 

Ear & Eyes ee:20-16; Michael Sarian (flgh, tpt on 1) Santiago Leibson (p) Matt Pavolka* or Marty Kenney (b) Dayeon Seok (d); Roselle, NJ, late 2018* or December 2019; 1. Dle Yaman / Portrait of a Postman/ 2. This Is Only The Beginning*/ 3. Aurora/ 4. Primo/ 5. Colorado Yeta/ 6. Scottie (33)*/ 7. The Morning After/ 8. Chinar Es/ 9. Mountains/ 10. Ask Me Now; 58:08. www.earsandeyesrecords.com