MISTERIOSO

Mark Turner - tenor saxophone
Orlando le Fleming - double bass
Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts - drums

Misterioso

One of the things that sets apart a good improviser from a great improviser is that perfect balance of tradition and foundation, with a passion to authentically explore and step beyond current trends. It is common to find too much of one or the other, especially today, where there are nostalgic obsessions with pastiche or a contrived cerebral effort to get away from it. I believe Mark and Jeff have found that mysterious beauty, the perfect balance. Their playing effortlessly embodies the most profound elements of the past with the discerning innovations of today. These are legends in our time, and their playing will stand the test of time.

Jeff and Mark have played on a record together before, but it was back in 1999 on a now unobtainable album Next Time Round by the great British pianist Jason Rebello. That was the first time I played with them and since then I have been lucky enough to perform with them many times but never together. It became apparent to me that Mark and Jeff had enormous respect and reverence for each other but for some reason their paths did not cross. I decided to end this and hired them for a trio gig at Smalls, in NYC, early 2020. It was a wonderful night and a couple of months later I was overjoyed when Mark suggested we record the trio when he was given the opportunity to make an album. After minimal rehearsing we went into the studio and recorded some of our favorite standards, and a couple of contrafacts - Mark’s “Oraeze Nri” is based on Sonny Rollin’s “Airegin” and Jeff’s “Dingle,Dangle” is on Thelonious Monk’s “Trinkle,Twinkle”.

Both Mark and Jeff have laid back and humorous dispositions; blended with their intense virtuosity on the bandstand you get beautiful, lyrical, swinging music. I am so glad that this has been captured on this album and I am honored to be the bridge between these two legends of our time.

Orlando le Fleming