Armin Jambor: ‘Touch & Fade’

Composer and saxophonist Armin Jambor is set to release ‘Touch and Fade’, an evocative set of tunes that boast influences from European classical music to sax giants Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins.

Touch and Fade is an album of originals that sounds like they’re already modern standards, such is the quality of composition and performance. Jambor’s sax is sweet and dextrous above the skilled ensemble of Matyas Bartha (piano), Danny Ziemann (bass) and Oleg Markov (drums). 

Opening with the the delightful jazz waltz First Song, Touch and Fade is a celebration of life’s special people and moments. Jambor says: “The title reflects the temporality of everything: relationships, feelings, moments. Their passing is what makes them matter the most.”

The opening bass lick and the quartet groove on BB Sketches opens us up to a complex set of melodies. Similarly, the dextrous lines on Sonnytude reflect the influence of the two Sonnies - Stitt and Rollins - on Jambor’s sax playing, while the earlier Space Monk gives a nice tip of the hat to influential pianist Thelonious Monk.

Towards the end of the tunes, we reach the title track, which is another delight - a sweet sax melody that the quartet carries along. Choosing to conclude with the rampant Quartet no 4 is a great choice, leaving the audience after a drum solo with the head ending with a final sax flourish.

‘Touch & Fade’ is set for release on 6 November