Jazzflits Concert Review (Bimhuis, 15-02-2024)

JazzNuEnglish translation:Susanne Alt met klassiek groove-geluid als van fluweelSusanne Alt, alto saxophonist, DJ, and composer, delivers an album with 'Royalty for Real' that would fit well in the heyday of instrumental funk jazz. The sound of the Fender Rhodes, combined with melodic grooves on the alto saxophone, brings to mind Bob James with David Sanborn or Andrey Chmut.Alt lives in Amsterdam but was born in Germany. Initially, she studied classical saxophone and won the Siemens Prize for young talent in 1996. Her first CD, Nocturne, showcases those classical influences. She moved to the Netherlands to study jazz saxophone in Hilversum and Amsterdam. She was one of the first musicians to enliven Amsterdam's nightlife by performing live with DJs. Now, her own DJ sets are an important part of her work, alongside playing with her quartet, session work, and collaborations with DJs and groups such as Fred Wesley, Hardsoul, and Wicked Jazz Sounds.'Royalty for Real' is now her sixth studio album. It was therefore somewhat surprising to find little information about it on the online jazz channels. Alt is clearly a perseverant artist with three conservatory studies under her belt and multiple self-produced CDs to her name. That may be rectified in the future, and then we can ask her how she managed to record an album with the rhythm section of Roy Hargrove. The royalty referenced in the title is trumpeter Roy Hargrove, to whom the CD is dedicated.It turns out that Susanne Alt did not sit idle during the lockdown period. In February 2022, she spent a few days in the New York Eastside Sound Studio with pianist James Hurt, double bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummer Willie Jones III. The finishing touches were later applied in Sapphire Studio in Amsterdam, The Hague, and New Jersey.The opening track, Roy Allan, is by Hargrove. Jazz enthusiasts know Hargrove for his hard bop or ballads on the flugelhorn. He was a beloved session musician and recorded extensively, solo, with his quintet, and with his Roy Hargrove Big Band. Additionally, there are countless recordings with others, including Manhattan Projects, Erykah Badu, Jimmy Griffin, and many others. He contributed to the first album of Buckshot Lefonque and toured and recorded with D'Angelo.Susanne Alt knows him personally from his performances at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. There, she met him and played together during the legendary jam sessions at the Bel Air Hotel. It left a lasting impression on her. Besides Hargrove's musicality, Alt praises his openness and positive demeanor in a radio interview. She learned from him that it's important to give each other space, listen to one another, and, when appropriate, dare to compliment each other during jam sessions. That can be hard to find in the macho music world. Hargrove passed away at the age of 49 from a hereditary disease, but he left behind a rich legacy, to which this tribute can now be added.The album lasts about 45 minutes and is divided into seven tracks. Besides the opening track Roy Allan (Hargrove) and The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael), Alt wrote all the titles. Blue Notes & Fairy Tales, the second track, brings a change in tempo but remains consistent in melody and approach with the first track. It is a funky groove played on the alto saxophone over a bed of Fender Rhodes, drums with plenty of cymbal work, and additional percussion. The double bass is subtly mixed deep into the piano sounds. The main role is reserved for the saxophone.In Bel Air Bop (a nod to North Sea The Hague), the Fender is replaced by a grand piano. Georgie Fame would know what to do with the melody and would immediately come up with lyrics for it. After the sax solo, a 'classic' piano solo by James Hurt follows. Hurt is a seasoned jazz pianist who has worked with Abbey Lincoln, among others. The drum solo follows, showing that drummer Willie Jones III is not just anyone. He toured with Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, and... with Roy Hargrove. Double bassist Gerald Cannon has played with greats like Art Blakey and was part of Hargrove's rhythm section with Willie Jones III for some time. In short, Alt is well surrounded here. Nevertheless, she stands her ground as the leading performer.The track Classy Cats could also be called Classy Scats. It invites you to sing along with the long, flowing saxophone lines. The Nearness of You was a favorite ballad of Hargrove. He often played ballads on his flugelhorn, and it is evident that Alt was inspired by his sound. The saxophone here sounds with full, warm notes like velvet.Royalty for Real has become an attractive and balanced album with an almost classic groove sound that fits a calmer time. Several tracks could easily work as a theme tune for a television program.A male American trumpeter serves as inspiration for a female saxophonist who originally studied classical music in Germany. It remains remarkable that the spark can jump across the world again and again, as long as one musician is open to the other. Royalty for real!MONICA RIJPMA - JazzflitsTranslation:The coronavirus turned our entire lives upside down. Can anything good come from a world turned on its head? Absolutely! Susanne Alt has returned to acoustic jazz. Before the pandemic, her schedule was packed with performances. As an adventurous spirit, Susanne liked to experiment with different genres in various ways, always successfully. Then, an unwanted silence fell. She was condemned to inactivity and social isolation, caused by circumstances beyond her control. Now, there is her album Royalty For Real, with which she pays tribute to Roy Hargrove, the late trumpeter who could say so much with so few notes, and which features pure jazz once again. After previous funky adventures, this must feel like coming home from an exciting journey.On February 15th, she presented the mentioned album. She did so confidently, just like her band. Susanne Alt's playing was thrilling, and it was clear that she felt at home in the full Bimhuis. Although the compositions were written during the corona period, a time of isolation, they do not reflect that seclusion. On the contrary, the material of the album is fittingly a tribute to a great musician. Pianist Timothy Banchet played with passion. His performance was sometimes 'groovy,' sometimes lyrical, but always powerful. He effortlessly exchanged solos with Susanne Alt. Their interplay was atmospheric. They were supported by a rhythm section that also deserves compliments. Welcome back to acoustic jazz, Susanne!