Mark Turner Quartet - Lathe of Heaven (2014)

Mark Turner is one of the most admired saxophonists of his generation, renowned for his exploratory intellect and intimate expressivity on the full range of the tenor. Turner leads a quartet of kindred spirits here, often entwining in serpentine fashion with rising-star trumpeter Avishai Cohen. They play long, introspective lines of hypnotic grace; and with the lithe rhythm section of bassist Joe Martin and drummer Marcus Gilmore, there is subtle volatility in the air.

'Lathe of Heaven', produced by Manfred Eicher at New York's Avatar Studio in June 2013, has a long-breathed essence characteristic of Turner's work, with melody taking primacy. There is mystery to the album, a quality of patient storytelling to the compositions. The music also echoes with allusions to literature and relationships key to Turner's personality as a musician. The album's title references Ursula K. Le Guin's 1971 science fiction novel of the same name. There are also gestural allusions to Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter, as well as Stevie Wonder. One of the highlights is "Year of the Rabbit," a rangy counterpart to the title track of Fly's 2012 ECM release, Year of the Snake. And the closer on 'Lathe of Heaven', the melodically haunting "Brother Sister," is a new, more expansive version of a piece first heard on that Fly album.

This is Mark Turner's ECM leader debut, following albums for the label in the cooperative trio Fly with Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard (beginning with 'Sky & Country'), and appearances on key recordings by Billy Hart ('All Our Reasons' & 'One Is The Other'), Enrico Rava ('New York Days') and Stefano Bollani's simultaneously-released 'Joy In Spite Of Everything'.

Tracklist:

01. Lathe of Heaven
02. Year of the Rabbit
03. Ethan's Line
04. The Edenist
05. Sonnet for Stevie
06. Brother Sister 2

Personnel:

Mark Turner (tenor saxophone),
Avishai Cohen (trumpet),
Joe Martin (double bass),
Marcus Gilmore (drums).