Alex Sipiagin, Horizons Review

by Stamish Malcuss

In today’s landscape of modern jazz, Alex Sipiagin balances the interplay of tradition and modernization with his latest offering, Horizons. Released by Blue Room Music on May 24, 2024, the album has a musical setting that reflects Sipiagin’s understanding of modern jazz’s dynamic flow, particularly as it intersects with post-bop and contemporary styles.

At the heart of Horizons lies the synergy between Sipiagin and his long-time collaborators: Chris Potter on saxophones, John Escreet on piano and keyboards, Matt Brewer on bass, and Eric Harland on drums. This quintet operates with a remarkable sense of cohesion, where each member’s contribution is distinct and essential to the overall sound. The ensemble’s performance feels like a conversation—fluid, responsive, and full of nuance.

From the opening track, “While You Weren’t Looking,” the ensemble dives into a whirlwind of rhythmic and melodic complexities. This Pat Metheny composition allows the ensemble to blend post-bop intensity and modern jazz exploration. Sipiagin and Potter’s interplay moves between tight unisons and divergent improvisations with a common focus and harmonic color, their lines weaving together to form a rich story. Escreet’s Fender Rhodes gives the harmonic pallet a modern color, while Brewer and Harland anchor the piece with a driving and elastic pulse.

One of the most striking features of Horizons is its seamless fusion of post-bop, contemporary, and modern jazz. Tracks like ‘Overseen’ and ‘Clean Cut’ serve as prime examples of this blend. ‘Overseen,’ a tribute to Wayne Shorter and Charles Mingus, is anchored by Harland’s subtle groove and Escreet’s interactive comping, both grounded by Brewer’s bass. The piece unfolds with a natural sense of development as the musicians explore its harmonic and rhythmic possibilities. The post-bop influence is evident in the harmonic approach to the chord progressions and the musicians’ interactions with the chord tones. At the same time, a modern sensibility emerges in the groove and rhythmic figures, allowing the music to breathe within a contemporary framework.

“Clean Cut” takes a more direct approach, with its multi-metered structure and shifting counterpoints. This track exemplifies Sipiagin’s ability to create intellectually stimulating music while still being focused on the groove. The ensemble navigates the rhythmic shifts with precision, yet there’s a looseness to their playing that gives the piece an organic feel. In these moments, the lines between post-bop and modern jazz blur, creating a contemporary sound that is uniquely Sipiagin’s.

The contemporary edge of Horizons is most evident in Sipiagin’s three-part “Horizon” suite. Escreet’s use of the Prophet 6 synthesizer and Rhodes adds a modern texture that colors the music with modern electronic textures. On “Horizon 2,” these electronic sounds create a sonic landscape that references qualities of ambient jazz while still having the energy of contemporary hues. The music unfolds in subtle layers as the ensemble develops the motifs gradually, inviting the listener into their conversational journey. Potter and Sipiagin echo the ambient, exploratory style of earlier electronic jazz but with a language that is rhythmically diverse and melodically focused on contemporary jazz constructions.

Horizons is a journey through the rich, varied pastels of modern jazz, guided by an artist unafraid to explore new territories while staying deeply rooted in the traditions that have shaped him. Sipiagin’s compositions are intricate yet accessible, the ensemble’s playing virtuosic yet deeply expressive, and the music is a stimulating blend of post-bop, modern, and contemporary jazz. Potter and Sipiagin, two of today’s jazz icons, are pointing the way forward, offering a snapshot of the genre through the lens of one of its most talented and forward-thinking artists.