Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Art Baden: How Much of It Is Real

Art Baden: How Much of It Is Real

By Troy Dostert
February 27, 2025
View read count

Continuing its well-established mission of documenting some of the noteworthy Russian musicians in today's jazz, the Rainy Days label offers another up-and-comer, tenor saxophonist

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Baden. Joined by three seasoned veterans, Baden provides both fire and sensitivity on his debut disc, How Much of It Is Real—and it is a promising effort all-around.

Bassist

Jay Anderson

bass
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Anderson, vibraphonist

Joe Locke

vibraphone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Locke and drummer

Jeff Tain Watts

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Tain Watts will need no introduction to serious followers of mainstream jazz, and they give Baden the steady foundation he needs for his thoughtful compositions, which straddle the line between passionate intensity and subtle introspection. Watts brings his inimitable punchiness to the surging opener, "4th Cycle," with Baden's saxophone sharing space with his flute and bass clarinet (thanks to overdubbing) in announcing the theme, before he turns exclusively to his sax for a wide-ranging enlivening solo. Watts expertly drives the group forward, and one can readily hear the way his crackling fills catalyze Baden's more tempestuous moments. Locke's shimmering contributions serve as rich harmonic support throughout the album, but he also turns in a marvelous, blues-drenched solo on "Animal Intelligence," and he authors one of the album's seven compositions as well, "Silky," featuring a gently poignant theme and another opportunity for Baden to overdub his bass clarinet and flute.

Baden has a strong voice on his tenor saxophone, with a compelling lyrical quality that takes some of the edge off his unruly side—so one can wonder whether the occasionally distracting overdubbing is really necessary here, particularly as it is clear that the saxophone is Baden's primary axe. Listening to him shredding his tenor on the up-tempo burner "Chaotic Neutral" should remove any suspicions that he needs additional instrumentation to fill out the quartet's sound. It also seems apparent that Baden is still finding his footing as a composer, as the title track ballad feels too brief, meandering its way to a finish after a mere two-and-a-half minutes despite having an alluring melody.

Slight shortcomings notwithstanding, Baden's first release displays plenty of ambition and verve, and it holds up rather well among 2024's crop of debut arrivals.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

4th Cycle; How Much of It Is Real; Animal Intelligence; Chaotic Neutral; Real People; BOGO; Silky.

Personnel

Art Baden

saxophone, tenor

Joe Locke

vibraphone

Jay Anderson

bass

Jeff Tain Watts

drums

Album information

Title: How Much of It Is Real | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Rainy Days Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

New releases from Vornhagen, Morris,...
< Previous

Willie Morris: Unbound Inner
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.