Traveller

Personnel: Tineke Postma (saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Geri Allen (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Terri Lyne Carrington (drums).
Recording information: Systems Two Recording Studio, Brooklyn, NY (02/03/2009/02/04/2009).
Photographer: Michiel Hoogenboezem.
Arranger: Tineke Postma.
Tineke Postma was one of the most promising instrumentalists to emerge on the European jazz scene after the dawn of the 21st century. For her fourth CD as a leader, she made two important additions to her group. One was the hiring of the veteran pianist and bandleader Geri Allen, the other was the use of vocalist Anne Chris on several tracks, while the seasoned bassist Scott Colley and longtime collaborator Terri Lynne Carrington round out the band. Starting with her infectious opener, "Song for F," Postma effectively plays lead on alto sax while overdubbing soprano sax for color, with Allen's driving piano and Chris singing in unison with the alto in the song's head. The appropriately quirky "Crazy Stuff" has a playful air, while she switches to soprano for the breezy post-bop vehicle "Cabbonal." Her finale, "YWC," is an infectious tune with a hip urban groove. The one tune not composed by Postma is the late Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos' "Adagio 13," a melancholy theme blending Postma's rich soprano sax with Chris' voice (once again in unison), complemented by her superb rhythm section. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden