Building on the success of his 2021 solo debut Dio C’è (“wildly ambitious” — AllMusic) and his co-led 2018 effort with pianist Jason Yeager All at Onceness, alto saxophonist Randal Despommier returns with A Midsummer Odyssey, a captivating duo session with guitarist extraordinaire Ben Monder. The central focus is the highly accessible yet always enigmatic music of Swedish baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin (1928-1976). Alternately boppish, cool, bluesy, folkish and chamber-like, Gullin’s pieces afford the Despommier/Monder duo endless opportunities for fresh reinvention.
DIO C’È
Dio C'è (“God Exists”), the debut solo album of saxophonist and composer Randal Despommier, is an autobiographical playlist of poignant, nostalgic, spirited, and uplifting new music. Featuring Despommier’s quartet and guest artists Aubrey Johnson, Ben Monder, and multi-grammy winner Jimmy Haslip, the album captures various scenes of Despommier’s life, from living/travelling in Italy, to moving to New York City. Contemporary jazz, Italian pop, alternative rock, Gregorian chant, and high-octane, gospel-infused grooves are all present in this bold display of artistry.
ALL AT ONCENESS
All At Onceness is a soulful mix of improvisational arrangements of Baroque, Romantic, twentieth-century, and contemporary pieces. With source material ranging from Bach to Stravinsky, Scriabin to Messiaen, these intrepid composer-improvisers stake out their own territory in a diverse program that combines folk-like melodies, evocative harmonies, and infectious rhythms. Joining the duo are three of New York's most adventurous artists: vocalist Aubrey Johnson, bassist Danny Weller, and drummer Jay Sawyer.