Madrid-born, New York-based pianist
Marta Sanchez
explores the complex duality of her identity on her engaging fourth album and third with her quintet, 2022's
SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum)
. The record's title is a wry play on the Smithsonian American Art Museum and one that exemplifies
Sanchez
's goals in bridging both her Spanish roots and status as one of the leading lights of the New York contemporary creative music scene. Joining her is her quintet featuring longtime associate
Roman Filiu
on tenor saxophone, along with altoist
Alex LoRe
, bassist
Rashaan Carter
, and drummer
Allan Mednard
. Together, they play with a quiet intensity marked by knotty post-bop improvisation, polyphonic group interplay, and
's compositions that artfully weave together modern jazz, folk, and classical traditions. As a pianist,
favors shimmering arpeggios and moments of cascading contrapuntal harmonies, as on the opening "The Unconquerable Vulnerable Areas," in which she sets up the song's roiling groove with a dancerly piano riff. While her own improvisations bring to mind the chamber introspection of players like
Dave Brubeck
and
Carla Bley
, her bold use of a two-sax frontline also recalls the similarly cerebral work of pianist
Lennie Tristano
's '60s group with saxophonists
Warne Marsh
Lee Konitz
. It's a vibe
evokes throughout, as on the delicate "If You Could Create It," her lyrical piano lines spiraling against
Filiu
LoRe
's dual-sax melody.
strikes ever more personal tones throughout the album, as on "Marivi" a poetic ballad written for her mother, who died while in lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic. Sung in Spanish by vocalist/guitarist
Camila Meza
, and featuring gorgeous improvisational flourishes from trumpeter
Ambrose Akinmusire
, the song, as with much of
, is a poignant expression of
's grief, as well as her bold, boundary-pushing musical identity. ~ Matt Collar