Dualities
Neuma, 2025
9/10
The inestimable saxophonist Kyle Jones defies boundaries for this debut album, where Timothy Jones and Julian Hernandez accompany him for the 6 colorful tracks.
Miriama Young’s “This Earthly Round (Redux)” opens with the light piano from Timothy complementing Kyle’s distinct alto sax prowess that’s both mysterious and exciting, and “Las Dolly Sisters”, by Gabriela Ortiz, unfolds with a playful energy via the firm sax and Hernandez’s lively clarinet.
In the middle, Rodney Rogers’ “Lessons Of The Sky” emits much melody via the swift keys and dreamy sax, while “Tableau IX” is an intimate moment of solo alto sax dynamics from Kyle’s meticulous skills in the Tyson Gholston Davis original.
Residing near the end, Ortiz’s “Mambo Ninón” benefits from firm keys and swirling alto sax for the mesmerizing album highlight, and Chris DeBlasio’s “Walt Whitman In 1989” exits with a soothing demeanor of rich song craft and precise interaction between the piano and sax.
A highly technical but accessible body of work, the presence of rhythm, texture and color makes for sonic bouts and meter shifting that’s fascinating.
Travels well with: Juraj Kojš + Pioneer Winter Collective- Birds Of Paradise; Drew Whiting- All In