Tzur, Oded - Isabela

On his second ECM release, New York saxophonist Oded Tzur brings out a heightened sense of urgency and a conceptually expanded approach to his distinctive sound, weaving a single underlying musical idea through a series of complex and passionate works. The quartet's lineup is the same as on the 2020 album Here Be Dragons, and the band's interaction has since grown even stronger. During the recording of Isabel, the saxophonist and his collaborators—pianist Nitai Hershkovits, Petros Klampanis on bass, and drummer Johnathan Blake – apply their subtle dialect in a more intense space, exploring the nuances and colors of Oded's own rag in a series of quiet meditations and powerful exclamations. This remarkable session was recorded at the Auditorium Stelio Molo in Lugano in October 2021 and produced by Manfred Eicher.