Scott Thomson - Pal o’Alto (2021)

My musical life has been punctuated by special encounters with saxophonists. A deep dive into Steve Lacy’s music after his death resulted in formative projects, notably The Rent (Ambiances Magnétiques, 2010). My organisational talents made possible orchestral projects with Anthony Braxton (2007) and Roscoe Mitchell (2016) as well as a delightful Canadian tour by Evan Parker (2011). However, my daily work is animated especially by relationships with alto players in cities where I’ve resided: John Oswald and Karen Ng (Toronto) and Jean Derome and Yves Charuest (Montréal). Pal o’Alto is a homonymic nod to a tune by Lee Konitz, who died during the 2020 pandemic while this record was being produced. Konitz’s music has also affected me profoundly and, while a straightforward tribute is not really my purview, I like to imagine that his spirit lurked as I made this music with these four dear pals. — Scott Thomson