Citizen Jazz 01/2013 France

Nederlands Jazz ArchiefEnglish:Saxophonist Susanne Alt hails from Germany but has long been a part of our jazz scene. Royalty For Real has the aura of a prestigious product. It is also a tribute to the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Hargrove was fond of participating in the after-hours sessions at North Sea Jazz; Alt occasionally played alongside him there – hence Bel Air Bop, one of the seven tracks. The saxophonist/flutist wrote five of the tracks herself, in addition to The Nearness of You and Roy Allan by Hargrove. The album was recorded in February 2022 in New York with pianist James Hurt, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummer Willie Jones III. - by Jean-Claude Pennec(...) Cela n’empêche pas Susanne Alt de s’aménager des plages plus sereines. Ainsi, « Scotheny », une des trois compositions de l’album, aborde un registre différent ; c’est une jolie ballade aux accents inédits, synthèse des chemins parcourus. Les accents du saxophone s’imposent d’évidence, réfléchis et mélodieux à l’extrême. Dans la même veine - en plus jazz - “Willow Weep for Me”, qu’elle domine de bout en bout, s’autorise une superbe improvisation dépouillée. Le quintet trouve alors un équilibre qui - de même que le solo de “No Rules”, laisse espérer des métamorphoses à venir. (...)English: (THIS ONE IS HARD TO TRANSLATE, IF YOU CAN IMPROVE IT, PLEASE CONTACT US)(...) This does not preclude Susanne Alt to develop in more smooth waters. Thus, Scotheny, one of the three compositions from the album tackles a different register, it is a beautiful ballad with unspoken hints, a synthesis of the paths. The accents of the saxophone are evidence of thoughtfulness and melodious sense to the extreme. In the same vein - more jazz - Willow Weep for Me, dominates from start to finish, a superb improvisation allows to unfold. The quintet then finds a balance - as well as the solo of No Rules, promising metamorphoses to come.