Chris Potter

The SIrenECM *****

Saxophonist Chris Potter, perhaps the most articulate US tenor player of his generation, is the latest in an illustrious line of intrepid Americans to seek out the safe artistic haven of German label ECM. So it's appropriate that his first recording as a leader for producer Manfred Eicher should be a rumination on Homer's Odyssey, with its themes of quest and discovery. In contrast to Potter's Underground band, which is an avowedly electric affair, the approach here is purely acoustic, with a mythically talented group that includes pianist Craig Taborn, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland. Potter's tunes, written over an intense two-week period, unfold like a adventure and reveal a musician drawing up to his full height, playing with freedom and authority, aided by companions who are worthy of the task. chrispottermusic.com