Intakt Records

Caroline Davis – Alto Saxophone, Compositions; Marquis Hill – Trumpet; Julian Shore – Piano; Chris Tordini – Bass; Allan Medford – Drums

Guests: Jen Shyu – Voice (Olympian Air, Everlasting Fire, Cover Up); Nicole Mitchell – Flute (City Flora, Cover Up); Nappy Nina – Spoken Word (City Flora, Only the Names Are Changed, Pt.2); Julia Easterlin – Voice (Kites); Alexa Barchini – Voice (Everlasting Fire); Michael King – Organ, Rhodes, Synthesizers (Kites); Ben Hoffmann – Synthesizers (Everlasting Fire)

I first came across the term “music cognition” while listening to Caroline Davis’s PORTALS VOL.2 RETURNING. Davis, who earned a Ph.D. in the field from Northwestern University in Chicago, delves into this area of study, which looks at how we process and understand music. It combines insights from behavior, neuroscience, theory, and computer models to explore how we experience and make sense of music.

You might be tempted to pass on PORTALS VOL.2, thinking it’s just an intellectual exercise, but that would be a mistake. It’s a stellar jazz album with an incredible lineup. Davis’s core quintet features Marquis Hill on trumpet, Julian Shore on piano, Chris Tordini on bass, and Allan Mednard on drums, along with some very special guests.

Davis picked up the saxophone around age 13, drawn to the sound of horn sections in classic R&B bands like Sly & the Family Stone, Steely Dan, Chicago, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. She’s gone through many musical phases in search of her own voice, inspired by artists such as Lee Konitz, Steve Coleman, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Warne Marsh, Sonny Rollins, Tim Berne, Steve Lacy, and others.

Davis has released six albums as a bandleader and was recognized as a Rising Star in Downbeat’s Critic’s Poll. In 2021, following the unexpected passing of her father, she felt inspired to explore themes of loss and connection, resulting in the release of PORTALS, VOL. 1: MOURNING.

PORTALS VOL.2 RETURNING is dedicated to Caroline’s grandmother, Joan “Lady” Anson-Weber, a British poet (1927-2010) whose influence has been a guiding force in her artistic life. To pay tribute to Lady’s poetry, Davis invited special guests to bring her words to life through a mix of spoken word and song.

The album begins with “Gate of the Year,” a piece inspired by the rhythms of a humorous poem Lady wrote about her garden gate. The horns engage in a lively back-and-forth, while Allan Mednard’s drumming and Chris Tordini’s bass propel the rhythm with playful energy, locked in perfect sync. Davis’s saxophone, cool and airy with minimal vibrato, evokes the understated style of Lee Konitz

The next two tracks, “Coming ‘Round” and “Back Again,” feature recordings of Lady’s voice, which Davis pulled from old VHS tapes. I love how the quintet treats her voice as another instrument to improvise with. Marquis Hill’s trumpet stands out, especially the way he gently complements and caresses Lady’s voice.

Guest vocalist Jen Shyu delivers a recitation of Anson-Weber’s poem “Olympian Air” on the track of the same name while the quintet weaves in whimsical, angular motifs around her recitation.

‘City Flora ’has an amazing flute solo from Nicole Mitchell. Her breathy tone has a gritty texture, giving it an earthy, soulful quality. Meanwhile, Nappy Nina delivers a rapid-fire, hip-hop-style recitation, adding an oh-so-cool contrast to the track.

Caroline Davis said, “My understanding of portals is that they are always morphing, transitioning, growing, so it feels like a project that will keep going throughout my years of performing and composing.” With Davis’s evolving vision of portals, it sounds like this journey is far from over. Her continual growth and exploration promise that we’ll be treated to much more exciting and boundary-pushing music in the years to come.