Can’t remember where I read about Steve Lehman’s 2007 effort, might be on Allaboutjazz or Downtown, but I was intrigued to see this 28 year old (same age as me!) saxophonist named on top of best album charts. After hunting down his “On Meaning” album on Pi Recordings, which is home to the who’s who of avantgarde artists such as Rudresh Mahanthappa, Marc Ribot, Muhal Richard Abrams and Art Ensemble of Chicago. I am extremely happy to have heeded the call. Having Anthony Braxton and Jackie McLean as mentors and collaborating with diverse artists such as Me’Shell NdegéOcello and pianist Vijay Iyer, Lehman’s compositional skills have become his tour-de-force. Unfortunately I’m still a layman when it comes to academic jazz analysis so I can never say things like :

For “Analog Moment” different asymmetric groupings of repeated notes by trumpet and saxophone counterweave through repeated notes on vibraphone, against a warm bass pulse and fluttering drum’n’ bass, to create a naturally undulating matrix.

.. but I can assure you I haven’t been this excited by a contemporary jazz album — which is intellectual yet still easy listening and memorable at the same time — for so long. In depth reviews on Bagatellen and Allaboutjazz.

Steve Lehman - Analog Moment
Steve Lehman - Open Music
Steve Lehman - Check this out