Andrew Boudreau: Neon

  After many decades of writing about music, snap judgements come easily to me. So it’s always a welcome surprise when I press “play,” the music starts, and I’m immediately intrigued by what I’m hearing but not at all sure what to think about it. That was the case with Neon, the superb debut release of music by pianist Andrew Boudreau. Boudreau met bassist Simón Willson when they both studied at the New England Conservatory. Tenor saxophonist Neta Raanan and drummer Eviatar Slivnik were students at the nearby Berklee College of Music when the four became acquainted. As a unit animating Boudreau’s tricky but appealing compositions, the quartet achieves a distinct sense of unity and cohesiveness. The keys, I think, are thoughtful understatement coupled with a self-assured attitude that lets the music breathe without ever sounding forced. Raanan’s snaky tenor solo on the opening track, Mile Ex, reveals a vivid musical imagination and the taut energy of spirited give and take with the rest of the band. She’s even better on the next piece, the snappy Ribbons, highlighted by a playful passage with Boudreau’s energetic piano. Boudreau’s crisp touch at the keyboard, thoughtful accompaniments, and melodically rich solos are a big part of the music’s success. In bassist Willson and drummer Slivnik, Boudreau has found a team that works beautifully together, keeping the music flowing with infectious energy. Boudreau’s inspirations are as varied as Canadian artist Maud Lewis, childhood summers (the expansively grooving Ghost Stories), his suddenly trendy Montréal neighborhood (Mile Ex), and the fiction of Julio Cortázar (the forceful and intricate Hopscotch). The Water's Cold, with its intricately intertwined introduction of arco bass, lush piano chords, brushes on drums and cymbals, and a slightly muted saxophone line, is a particular favorite. That’s just one of the disc’s many highlights. While it’s still early in the year, I’ll be surprised to hear a better rookie effort in 2022. Definitely recommended. 

Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT 631; Neta Raanan (ts; out on *) Andrew Boudreau (p) Simón Willson (b) Eviatar Slivnik (d); Astoria, NY, August 13, 2021; Mile Ex/ Ribbons/ Maud Lewis/ Neon*/ Ghost Stories/ One Day/ The Water’s Cold/ Hopscotch/ Welcome Oak*; 46:40. freshsoundrecords.com