Ralph Alessi Quartet - It?s Always Now

Ralph Alessi's fourth appearance as label director follows a series of solo albums that have received nothing but praise from both The New York Times and The Guardian. The latter praised Ralph's previous recording, Imaginary Friends (2019), for its "elegant balance between touching, playful original compositions and smoothly exploratory improvisation," declaring it "his best album to date." However, It's Always Now is full of arguments that there is a new contender for the title. On his new album, Alessi's unique sound is as supple, penetrating, and present as ever, surrounded by a new quartet lineup – pianist Florian Weber, Bänz Oester on bass and drummer Gerry Hemingway – who navigates the trumpeter's uniquely swinging compositions with a sixth sense. The album is not only a continuation of the leader's work, but also documents Florian's development with the label, this being his fourth album with ECM to date. His distinctive harmonic approach to the keys is as evident in his leading compositions as it is in his role as a sideman, and his deep sensitivity to Alessi's pulse reinforces this session produced by Manfred Eicher.