Jazzenzo (NL), January 2026

P8 (Danish radio) - JazzenzoEnglish:On her new album, Susanne Alt sets the tone with apowerful sound right from the opening track, Jazz Biotic. Dark Horse is the seventh album by the Amsterdam-based, German-born saxophonist and flutist. Its predecessor, Royalty For Real, was initially framed as a return to acoustic jazz. Yet, looking back on Alt's oeuvre, there has always been a combination of deep, funk-rooted grooves and compelling, melodic jazz improvisations.New YorkIn February 2022, Alt traveled to New York with three top American musicians to record a tribute to the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove (1969-2018). The resulting contemplative album became a worldwide success and opened new doors for the passionate musician and composer. Alt took full advantage of the opportunity to keep going with this experienced New York rhythm section (bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Willie Jones III played in Hargrove's band). Keyboardist James Hurt skillfully alternates between organ, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, synth, and grand piano, adding depth and refinement. Cannon and Jones let loose on pieces written especially for them (Cannonballin' and Jonesin').As a whole, the Dark Horse, again produced by Alt, sounds more exuberant than Royalty For Real (2024). During Kalunga Dance, things really heat up. The fact that the musicians' enthusiastic exclamations remain at the end of some tracks contributes to this liveliness. In the absence of keyboardist Hurt, the remaining trio spontaneously launched into Charlie Parker's Au Privave, a beautiful ode to the jazz tradition.Listening to Dark Horse is like attending a jam session where everyone is on the same page and where you know after just a few minutes: this can't go wrong.