Jazz for Thinking People
Image by Mark Wilson
Crossposted from Haaretz
Image by Mark Wilson
Jonathan Greenstein is a young saxophone player who lives and performs in Tel Aviv. His debut album “Thinking,” on the Spanish label Fresh Sound, takes him elegantly from the category of promising jazz musician to that of jazz musician who is keeping his promise, and it’s a pleasure to be an ear witness to this transition.
Don’t look for the revolutionary fervor of an artist just starting out. The album title says it — “Thinking.” However, apart from that kind of challenge, the album has nearly everything: excellent melodies, interesting dynamics, playing that thinks deeply but doesn’t forget to feel, a good ensemble of musicians. Perhaps the sound hasn’t crystallized into an entirely original identity, but it’s undoubtedly heading that way.
