Rule Of Thirds
Outside In, 2023
8/10
The saxophonist Alex Weitz penned this 3rd album as leader following the pandemic and loss of his father, where 8 originals and a cover take help from Tal Cohen, Ben Tiberio and Michael Piolet, plus others for the modern jazz listen.
“The Hive” begins the listen with Emmet Cohen’s stunning piano playing alongside Weitz’s glowing sax and Ari Hoenig’s proficient drumming, and “Nocturne In C Sharp Minor” follows with a calmer demeanor of warm guitar from Yotam Silberstein and Tiberio’s strategic bass amid Weitz’s soulful sax.
In the middle, “Harlem Lullaby” showcases Cohen’s intimate piano that suits Weitz’s reflective brass, while “Odyssey” picks up the pace with a rock focused album highlight that’s populated by Michael Piolet’s agile drumming and Silberstein’s thick guitar.
“Love For Sale” and “Sonata For Fred” exit the listen, where the former, a Cole Porter original, is textured playfully and truly spotlights Weitz’s powerful sax, and the latter finishes soft and dreamy, with the expressive sax and poetic piano working together sublimely.
An emotionally rich and dynamic collaboration that hones in on straight ahead jazz, classical music and rock spirited, odd meter ideas, Weitz and company make the most of these timeless and exciting 9 tracks.
Travels well with: Ben Wendel- All One; Nick Finzer- Dreams, Visions, Illusions