Muziekweb, january 2026 (NL)
MuziekwebEnglish:
For several albums now, saxophonist Susanne Alt—born in Würzburg, Germany, in 1978, but based in Amsterdam since 1996—has navigated the world between funky jazz and jazzy funk. On this seventh album, the balance shifts back to jazz—just like on its successful predecessor, Royalty For Real (2024). The recordings for Dark Horse stem from the same New York session, and thus also feature the same strong backing band. Fortunately, because bassist Gerald Cannon (who played in Elvin Jones's band for many years), drummer Willie Jones III, known for his work with Milt Jackson, among others, and—especially—keyboard virtuoso James Hurt, elevate the songs to a higher plane. Funk is still prominently featured in the opener, "Jazz Biotic," which, like the two tracks that follow, sounds smooth and tight. From the Charlie Parker cover "Au Privave" onward, you can hear that Dark Horse was a spontaneous creation, a (welcome!) bonus track after the more subdued "Royalty For Real." Titles like Cannonballin’ and Jonesin’ speak volumes in this regard, while the swinging Kalunga Dance breathes the atmosphere of the Lower Eastside neighbourhood in which the studio is located.
on 17/02/2026
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Jazzflits 450 (the last edition)English:In 2022, Susanne Alt recorded an album entitled Royality For Real, an album guided by the musical legacy of trumpeter Roy Hargrove. During this inspiring session with Roy's original rhythm section, much music was left unfinished. There was simply too much for one CD, and the pieces not selected turned out to be stunningly beautiful. Therefore, the CD Dark Horse is now being released, and it coincides with a CD launch on January 16th at the Bimhuis (Amsterdam). A selection has been made for the album with many funky, danceable tracks. It's the idiom that fits Susanne like a glove. It's not without reason that she is a star at dance festivals as a DJ and saxophonist, guaranteeing exuberant funky tunes. Her American backing trio has strong roots in acoustic jazz. James Hurt is a versatile keyboardist and has an impressive track record. Bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Willie Jones III were long members of Roy Hargrove's band. And you can hear that band's ability to blow the roof off in the tight interplay of this tandem. Susanne Alt has a winning combination with these musicians. The short studio conversations that follow the songs on the CD are enjoyable. Alt's wealth of musical ideas is evident from the fact that all the pieces are hers. All, no, one, is by Charlie Parker. Because pianist James Hurt was late for one of the sessions, Susanne played Parker's piece Au privave with Gerald and Willie as a trio. And they performed so beautifully that it earned a place of honor on this CD, Dark Horse. - MuziekwebEnglish:For several albums now, saxophonist Susanne Alt—born in Würzburg, Germany, in 1978, but based in Amsterdam since 1996—has navigated the world between funky jazz and jazzy funk. On this seventh album, the balance shifts back to jazz—just like on its successful predecessor, Royalty For Real (2024). The recordings for Dark Horse stem from the same New York session, and thus also feature the same strong backing band. Fortunately, because bassist Gerald Cannon (who played in Elvin Jones's band for many years), drummer Willie Jones III, known for his work with Milt Jackson, among others, and—especially—keyboard virtuoso James Hurt, elevate the songs to a higher plane. Funk is still prominently featured in the opener, Jazz Biotic, which, like the two tracks that follow, sounds smooth and tight. From the Charlie Parker cover Au Privave onward, you can hear that Dark Horse was a spontaneous creation, a (welcome!) bonus track after the more subdued Royalty For Real. Titles like Cannonballin’ and Jonesin’ speak volumes in this regard, while the swinging Kalunga Dance breathes the atmosphere of the Lower Eastside neighbourhood in which the studio is located.
