Alex Sipiagin

Since he emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1991, Alex Sipiagin has earned an exalted international reputation as a no-technical-limits improvisor, sustaining a gorgeous sound throughout the trumpet’s registral range, navigating harmonic and rhythmic complexity with precision, passion, and abiding lyricism.

Most of Sipiagin’s previous albums showcase his contrapuntal, harmonically comprehensive compositions, full of interesting melodic twists and turns. On them, the projects the same voice that

For his new release, Mel’s Vision, the 55-year-old master – joined by A-listers tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist David kikoski, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Johnathan Blake – contributes two wonderful originals. But Alex addresses the session primarily as an opportunity to focus on interpreting music by others – a song by Potter, a Ukrainian folk song and four rarely covered gems from the jazz canon.

PERSONNEL:

• Alex Sipiagin – (trumpet)
• Chris Potter – (sax)
• Matt Brewer – (bass)
• Johnathan Blake – (drums)
• David Kikoski – (piano)

Recorded at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio; New York, April 22, 2022

TRACKS:

• 01. Mel’s Vision
• 02. Summer’s End
• 03. Four by Five
• 04. Maritima
• 05. Vesnianka
• 06. Bird Food (Take 2)
• 07. Balmoral Point
• 08. Peggy’s Blue Skylight
• 09. Bird Food (Take 1 – Alternate take)