Programme > Artists > Chris Potter Underground (USA)

Chris Potter Underground (USA)

The evolution of post-war jazz saxophone up to today might as well be simplified from Charlie Parker up to Michael Brecker. The amount of stuff that fits in between is most impressive. But saxophonist Chris Potter reflects upon all that and even incorporates it into his very own expression. (After all, it’s not by accident that when Potter first came to study in New York, his first gig was arranged by Parker’s ex-trumpet player Rod Rodney).

Ever since Potter began releasing his own albums in the second half of the ‘90s, he’s been considered one of the most prominent talents of his generations and he continues to exceed every expectation. But the creative musician and author of modern, sometimes a bit listener-demanding jazz, who also plays in Dave Holland’s quintet, is at the same time compliant to music that appeals to the listener - such as when he joined the popjazz duo Steely Dan on their Two Against The Nature recording, which was later rewarded with the Album of the Year Grammy in 2001. That is not an exception for Potter, whose band Underground could easily perform even on a rock stage.

Even though the band’s in many ways close to modern funk, it does without the funk’s fundamental bass guitar. Up to today, it’s recorded two albums: the studio one, Underground (2006), and a live continuation called Follow the Red Line (2007). This is where we get to hear Potter’s current musical partners: keyboardist Craig Taborn and guitarist Adam Rogers, who keep freely exchanging bass lines, and pushy but sensitive drummer Nate Smith. The things that happen in between them are big, intoxicative and attractive, if only because they don’t instantly come from nowhere. Even though they’re still capable of arousing euphoria.

Potter is an incredibly technical saxophonist with education, huge scope of interests, an inner fire and unusual musical intelligence. He’s respectful to the tradition of the old masters, not just Parker, but also Lester Young and Sonny Rollins. And Potter can stir interest even with things like his recording Song for Anyone (2007), which is perfectly and lyrically pieced together for a ten-piece ensemble with woodwinds and strings. That’s why the lively and still composed music of his band Underground might to some look as if coming from the Moon, which, as we all know, has a dark side to it. It looks like that might also be the case of curious Chris Potter.