The David
Berkman Sextet
‘Six of One’
Palmetto Records
There’s an apt quote
from pianist David Berkman’s wife in the liner notes for his new album “Six of
One.” She compares the music to a “scramble intersection,” a six-way pedestrian
crossing in her native Japan. Organized chaos is a wonderful metaphor for the
bold interaction here. Since arriving in New York in 1985, David Berkman has
worked with Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas and many others. On “Six of
One,” he enlists four top saxophonists — Dayna Stephens, Adam Kolker, Billy
Drewes, and Tim Armacost — along with bassist Chris Lightcap, drummer Kenneth
Salters, and percussionist Rogerio Boccato.
The best “scramble
intersections” here can be found in “Cynical Episode” and “Kickstopper,” when
two of the saxophonists take disparate solos simultaneously, setting up a wild improvisational counterpoint that works
beautifully. The album showcases Berkman’s excellent keyboard playing and
superb solos from all of the players, but it’s ultimately Berkman’s distinctive
compositions and arrangements that steal the show.
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2019.
