Year of The Rabbit

Mark Turner is one of the most admired saxophonists of his generation, renowned for his exploratory intellect and intimate expressivity on the full range of the tenor. This is his ECM leader debut, following albums for the label in the cooperative trio Fly with Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard, and appearances on key recordings by Billy Hart, Enrico Rava and Stefano Bollani. Turner leads a quartet of kindred spirits here, often entwining in serpentine fashion with rising-star trumpeter Avishai Cohen. They play long, introspective lines of hypnotic grace; and with the lithe rhythm section of bassist Joe Martin and drummer Marcus Gilmore, there is subtle volatility in the air.

Even as they still mourn the loss of their beloved frontman, Scott Hutchison, Frightened Rabbit are celebrating his music. This year marks the 10th anniversary of their landmark sophomore album, The Midnight Organ Fight, and the band is marking the occasion with a star-studded tribute record. Tiny Changes features a full top-to-bottom reworking of the classic Midnight Organ Fight by a number of musicians who either personally knew Hutchison or held his music dear. Death Cab for Cutie singer Ben Gibbard recently shared his version of “Keep Yourself Warm”, while other early previews included Manchester Orchestra and Sarah Silverman & Katie Harkin covering “My Backwards Walk”, and Julien Baker and Biffy Clyro separately taking on “The Modern Leper”.