Benjamin Koppel - Saxophone Alchemy
Time Again (Cowbell Music, 2024) and Story Of Mankind - A Requiem (Cowbell Music, 2024)
Danish saxophonist Benjamin Kopple released Perspective (Cowbell Music, 2023) to positive reviews with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade, giving us his version of the pianoless saxophone trio. He returns with a pair of recordings, one as a trio (a spin off the organ trio), Time Again and the forward thinking and politically minded Story Of Mankind - A Requiem.
In the same way that Koppel, Colley, Blade expanded the language of the saxophone trio sans harmony instrument on Perspective, so does Koppel, Blade, Koppel recast the organ trio on Time Again. The second Koppel here is pater familias Anders, playing the Hammond organ. But this is no greasy soul jazz trio a la Shirley Scott/Stanley Turrentine. Kopple’s “Puerto Rican Rumble” kicks off like a workingman’s “St. Thomas.” It set the tone for a lively and seductive mix of styles and sounds that push the perimeter of jazz and even music. Many writers thumbtack this recording in the guise of the 1960s organ trio. This is quite the update of that, with no measures employed to distance the trio from those chicken-shack days of 50 years ago. The trio pushes the title track well into the urban environ, adding hip hop artist and rapper Al Agami to further expand the trio’s intention. “Fall from Grace” is unsurpassed, a melancholy ballad densely lyrical and restrained. The trio spreads dirt on Benjamin’s “Should Have Put a Ring On It” while the group closes with Anders’ “Blind Man” revealing the trio’s sense of drama. This is an end-of-the-year release.
Story Of Mankind - A Requiem is a much different release than Time Again, one that abandons the tactile surface of reimagined soul jazz for more thoughtful and gently contoured images of rumination…consideration of uncertain times and fearful outcomes. This recording is Kopple’s response to the war in Ukraine and surrounding events. The saxophonist employs a group made of the alto sax, trumpet, cello, keyboards, bass, and drums. Randy Brecker is the trumpeter providing the gravity and elegance needed to season Koppel’s passionate alto sax. Benjamin composed all the tracks using lyrics written by Guillaume Apollinaire, “TT” Krag, and Morten Sondergaard. Story Of Mankind is an edgy and progressive musical statement of the political and social times.