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The Empress: Square One

By Jack Bowers
April 16, 2025
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The Empress is a New York City-based co-op septet whose front line consists of four saxophonists. Based on its title, the assumption is that Square One is the group's first recording as a unit. The Empress is the idea of award-winning saxophonist

Pureum Jin

saxophone, alto
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Pureum Jin, who enlisted the renowned German writer and saxophonist

Michael Lutzeier

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Lutzeier to arrange ten of the album's eleven durable and decisive numbers and recruited a trio of all-star saxophonists to share the stage and lend their awesome talents to the enterprise.

Jin's teammates are alto saxophonist

Erena Terakubo

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Erena Terakubo, tenor

Chelsea Baratz

saxophone, tenor
b.1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Chelsea Baratz and baritone

Lauren Sevian

saxophone, baritone
b.1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Lauren Sevian. Jin plays soprano and alto saxophones. The foursome is ably reinforced by pianist

Steve Ash

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Ash, bassist

Joey Ranieri

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Ranieri and drummer

Pete Van Nostrand

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Pete Van Nostrand. The ensemble thunders from the starting gate with Lutzeier's fiery "Instant Composure" (a.k.a. "The Song Is You"), on which there is no misreading anyone's fearless intentions or formidable chops. The Gershwin brothers' "But Not for Me" is given a brisk and earnest ride, as is

Juan Tizol

trombone
1900 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Juan Tizol's well-traveled "Caravan."

Three tracks in hand, three blockbusters—and the group is only getting warmed up. After pausing for breath to enfold a rare but welcome ballad,

Matt Dennis

b.1914

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Dennis and Tom Adair's sorrowful "Everything Happens to Me" (marvelously arranged by Jin), everyone shifts to high gear again to recap

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton's sunny "Bolivia" and

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson's handsome "Stablemates."

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's gentle "Mr. Syms" precedes two more jazz benchmarks—

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver's melodic "Nica's Dream" and

John Lewis

piano
1920 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lewis' limber "Milestones"—before the ensemble wraps the trim and stylish package with Lutzeier's graceful "Reminiscing" and

Oliver Nelson

saxophone
1932 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Nelson's dapper and bluesy "Yearnin.'"

About the highest compliment one can bestow on The Empress and Square One is that these four saxophonists—and their supporting cast —are so consistently strong and persuasive that a brass section is scarcely missed and in fact may seem superfluous. Here's hoping Square Two is as inevitable as it is wished for.

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Track Listing

Instant Composure; But Not for Me; Caravan; Everything Happens to Me; Bolivia; Stablemates; Mr. Syms; Nica��s Dream; Milestones; Reminiscing; Yearnin��.

Personnel

Pureum Jin

saxophone, alto

Erena Terakubo

saxophone, alto

Chelsea Baratz

saxophone, tenor

Lauren Sevian

saxophone, baritone

Steve Ash

piano

Joey Ranieri

bass, acoustic

Pete Van Nostrand

drums

Album information

Title: Square One | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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