November 2007

Eric Rasmussen
School of Tristano
SteepleChase

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

As the title suggests, alto saxophonist Rasmussen is a disciple of Lennie Tristano’s cerebral approach to arrangement and improvisation, and he pays tribute with an airy set of tunes written by Tristano, Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz. The twisting, undulating lines he draws with fellow acolyte Nate Radley on guitar are chock-full of delicately balanced contrapuntal passages, tricky unison parts and introspective solos, but Rasmussen’s quartet updates and personalizes the sound, keeping the proceedings intimate as well as respectful.