Alex Terrier: Tompkins Square

Alex Terrier can play all the saxophones, but his soprano is one of the more poetic and naturally sounding expressions heard out of that horn in a long while. Tompkins Square makes a good demonstration for this unique talent of his. Against the backdrop of a pondering but lightly swinging melody, Terriers sax sings with the articulation and cadence of a mockingbird, using the instrument as an extension of purely human expression. Terriers soliloquy is interrupted for a while by Brenneisens spacious, intelligent and bop-minded guitar. Terrier returns with a series of smoothly connected phrases that are personal and original.

On Tompkins Square, one understands the notion that jazz is not about scales, notes and structures; its about making a joyful sound.