An upbeat and energetic album of modern creative jazz compositions from Cuban-American saxophonist, woodwind player, and composer/improviser David Leon, leading his Aire De Agua with Sonya Belaya on piano, Florian Herzog on bass and Stephen Boegehold on drums, performing Leon's intricate compositions that elucidate each player's voice and great skill.
Label: Out Of Your Head Records Catalog ID: OOYH 011 Squidco Product Code: 31227
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2021 Country: USA Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded at Big Orange Sheep in Brooklyn, New York, on February 9th, 2020, by
"I met David when he was attending the School for Improvisational Music summer workshop. Instantly impressed with his versatility as a composer and improviser, I could see he was eager to relocate to New York and make his mark on the creative music scene. After he moved, I requested to mentor David through The Jazz Gallery's mentorship program during which we performed a series of shows, comprising duo dates as well as a quartet alongside Tom Rainey and Michael Formanek. For the project, he composed pieces that fluidly combine written material and improvisation. It was clear that he was moving towards a personal language through these compositions and refining his expression as a composer and improviser.
Aire De Agua is further evidence of that evolution. Poised for expansion, David gleans conceptual ideas from art forms outside music; at the same time, he allows his work to reflect what he observes and experiences. Selecting a durational performance from artist Marina Abramovic as structural impetus for composing "Bluest Blue," David pays tribute not only to her work but to her influence: "Marina is an inspiration to me, as someone who pushes her mind and body beyond their limits in pursuit of something greater." Choreographer Pina Bausch's works sparked his idea for "Pina," a piece that obscures the ensemble's timbral identities through what he calls "sonic illusion" in which the snare drum's cross stick imitates the saxophone's slap tongue.
Meaningful connections with fellow artists shape David's artistic vision. His compositions become vessels for his bandmates to express themselves, connecting with the music and each other. I find it fitting the title track of his debut record features his fellow artists' performances perhaps more explicitly than his own. In David's words, Aire De Agua attempts to offer "a dynamic where all four voices are closer to equal in weight". To me, this notion-along with the inclusion of a saxophoneless trio piece "A Hug A Day"-reflects his capacity for expressive empathy and, ultimately, artistic growth.
A powerful and rewarding listen, Aire De Agua documents an initial upsweep of what promises to be the long elegant arc of David Leon's career. The creative energy and humanity behind each composition-scripted and spontaneous-kindles an inexhaustible motivation to refine his voice and elevate his craft. "-Kris Davis