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Jeff Lederer: Sunwatcher

By Mark Corroto
June 24, 2011
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Sunwatchers is a most auspicious debut by saxophonist Jeff Lederer. The reed man chose to reanimate the spirit of

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler for this session, and along with Ayler's ghost came that of late-

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane spirituality and experimentation.

Lederer can been heard as the saxophone behind the creative bands of

Ted Kooshian

piano
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Kooshian's cartoon and TV show music and drummer

Matt Wilson

drums
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Wilson's newest quartet. Playing on Wilson's That's Gonna Leave A Mark (Palmetto, 2009), he is the yang to saxophonist

Andrew D'Angelo

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew D'Angelo's, well, yang.

Here, he returns the favor, employing Wilson at the drums, plus

Jamie Saft

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jamie Saft at the keyboard and

" data-original-title="" title="">Buster Williams on bass. Opening with his personal tribute to Ayler, "Albert's Sun," his tenor hails Ayler's sound with a fierce love cry. Playing with some jaw-dropping extended technique, he soars from deep tenor to whistling high notes before Saft follows, dancing along the new thing's edge of fidgety notes.

What flows from the opener is Ayler's immediate family, as Lederer summons his best

Pharoah Sanders

saxophone, tenor
1940 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Pharoah Sanders for his "Turiyasangitananda," a devotional piece that's a tribute to

Alice Coltrane

piano
1937 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Alice Coltrane, and the sanctified sound of gospel heard on

Duke Pearson

piano
1932 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Pearson's bluesy "Cristo Redentor" and "Snake In The Blackberry Patch," where Lederer massages his soprano into a dervish bliss.

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley's mini-ballad, "Albert's Love Theme," shifts into a bit of introspection, as Saft guides the saxophonist's inward prayer into the atmosphere.

This disc comes full circle, tying Alyer's prophecy with the African-American church on the traditional "Break Bread Together," grabbing equal parts jazz and blues with this old-timey revival.

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Track Listing

Albert's Sun; Cristo Redentor; Arnold Schoenberg's Son; Snake In The Blackberry Patch; Albert's Love Theme; Arshawsky; Break Bread Together; Turiyasangitananda.

Personnel

Jeff Lederer

woodwinds

Jeff Lederer: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet; Jamie Saft: piano, organ; Buster Williams: bass; Matt Wilson: drums.

Album information

Title: Sunwatcher | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Jazzheads

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