Idit Shner - 9 Short Stories (2017)

A fiery and dedicated improvisor and composer, saxophonist Idit Shner's latest quartet recording highlights her rich and ongoing relationship with pianist Josh Hanlon and drummer Stockton Helbing, which dates back to the early 2000's when Idit was working on her Doctorate at the University of North Texas. Along with bassist James Driscoll, the quartet tackles a program of Idit's compositions, all based in the jazz tradition but with influences ranging from traditional melodies and rhythms from Zimbabwe, to classical Arabic music, to the Latin-tinged grooves of McCoy Tyner from his early '70s recordings. For the album's lone standard, Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower," Shner declares her debt to one of jazz's definitive alto stylists with this haunting Ellington band staple, one of Duke's many feature numbers for Johnny Hodges.

Idit Shner - alto and soprano saxophone
Josh Hanlon - piano & Hammond B3
James Driscoll - bass
Stockton Helbing - drums