We use cookies on our website to provide you with the best experience. Most of these are essential and already present.
We do require your explicit consent to save your cart and browsing history between visits. Read about cookies we use here.
Your cart and preferences will not be saved if you leave the site.
play
Out of stock

Ralph Alessi Quartet

It's Always Now (LP)

Label: ECM Records

Format: LP

Genre: Jazz

Out of stock

Ralph Alessi’s fourth appearance as a leader for the label follows a singular album run that’s been met with nothing but praise from The New York Times to The Guardian. The latter lauded Ralph’s previous recording Imaginary Friends (2019) for its “elegant balance of poignant, playful original compositions and gracefully probing improv” and declared it “his best album yet”. It’s Always Now however brims with arguments that there is a new contender for that title. On his new album, Alessi’s unique tone is as limber, piercing and present as ever, enveloped by a fresh quartet line-up – pianist Florian Weber, Bänz Oester on bass and drummer Gerry Hemingway – that navigates through the trumpeter’s idiosyncratically swinging compositions with a sixth sense. The album is not only a continuation of the leader’s work but also records Florian’s evolution on the label, this being his fourth album with ECM to date. His distinctive harmonic approach on keys is as evident in leader settings as in the role of a sideman, and his deep sensibility for Alessi’s pulse enhances this session, which was produced by Manfred Eicher.

His thirteenth LP as a leader and fourth for ECM, ‘It’s Always Now’ debuts a new, international set of backing musicians to help Alessi with his distinctive vision. Versatile American drummer Gerry Hemingway and Swiss bassist Bänz Oester provide a variety of rhythms, locking onto each other like a barnacle to a hull one minute and jogging parallel alongside each other the next. Pianist Florian Weber serves as the harmonic anchor, not only laying down textural comping and counterpoint riffs, but also co-composing a few tunes. Backed by these fresh but experienced faces, Alessi really puts his heart into both his songs and his performances.
Michael Toland, The Big Takeover

Details
File under: Free Improvisation
Cat. number: ECM 2722
Year: 2023
Notes:
Recorded June 2021 ArteSuono Studio, Undine An ECM Production ℗ © 2023 ECM Records GmbH Postfach 600331, 81203 München www.ecmrecords.com Made in EU