Last year, Rudresh Mahanthappa was recognized by the Jazz Journalists Association as Alto Saxophonist of the Year, and Downbeat as a Rising Star (both Jazz Artist and Alto Saxophonist), but much more important than such accolades is the fact that he just kills when he’s blowing his horn. His playing is strong and fluid, lush and measured in turn, and he repeatedly turns his talents to a whole range of projects, from his various collaborations with Vijay Iyer (the force behind last year’s stellar Historicity and its critical and popular success) to his Indo-Pak Coalition.
This week, he’s playing as part of Apex with Bunky Green and the phenomenal Jason Moran at the Jazz Standard, and all of this earns him his own Jazz in the Present Tense episode of Stormy Mondays. It’s a single track from the spring of 2009 in Venezia, Italy from Mauger Trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Gerry Hemingway; a long, stylish cut of distinct passages and textures that turn aggressive or swinging on the drop of a dime, all colored with a loose ease of play that belies the group‘s short tenure. Excellent listening, and an excellent introduction to one of the young greats playing today. As always, enjoy!
