Tenor saxophonist
Ilhan Ersahin, who was born in Turkey but has long lived in the U.S., displays a tone slightly influenced by
John Coltrane (particularly when playing ballads) but a strikingly original modern post-bop style on
Our Song, his debut recording. Teamed with trumpeter
Eddie Henderson, keyboardist
Jon Davis, and the tenor's regular rhythm section (bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Kenny Wolleson),
Ersahin performs a Turkish folk song and nine of his originals. The music is a bit reminiscent of the period in the 1970s when hard bop met fusion, funky jazz, and the avant-garde. Although the results do not fall squarely into any of those four categories, the influences are felt in spots. The presence of
Henderson clearly inspires
Ersahin, who is heard throughout in creative and swinging form. ~ Scott Yanow