Old Friends; New Music

PREVIEW: Matt Steckler’s Old Friends Beckoned/New Sounds Reckoned

First came friendships, then gigs, then an album, now another gig: Saturday, January 11 at Caffe Lena.

In saxophonist-composer-bandleader Matt Steckler’s Old Friends Beckoned, New Sounds Reckoned project, musicians first became friends: pianist Yayoi Ikawa and bassist Lonnie Plaxico, initially; later adding drummer Tony Lewis.

Steckler played with Ikawa in a big band at NYU where he earned his Ph.D. in composition; Plaxico played on Steckler’s 2006 Persiflage album, also live in New York and Washington DC. Playing together, Steckler found Ikawa “an athlete on keys – maximum power with maximum efficiency,” as he has explained, and Plaxico’s “way of picking up the essence of the song in one fell swoop, almost by instinct…makes hard things look easy.” Both Ikawa and Plaxico had recorded albums as leaders before the trio started working together in 2022, playing Caffe Lena in Sept. 2023, recording their album this past April at bassist-producer Scott Petito’s Catskill studio (adding Lewis), playing as a quartet in the album’s live premiere at WAMC’s The Linda last October. Newcomer Lewis’s resume sparkles with credits alongside Little Richard, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Sting, Cyndi Lauper and others.

Old Friends Beckoned, live at WAMC’s The Linda, from left: Yayoi Ikawa, piano; Lonnie Plaxico, bass; Matt Steckler, saxophones and flute; Tony Lewis. Photo provided.

THE ALBUM

The album “Old Friends Beckoned/New Sounds Reckoned” collects nine Steckler originals and one by Ikawa: heads-up compositions all, played with organic unity. Most swing at medium tempos; Steckler most often on tenor or alto, once each on soprano and flute. There’s swagger, harmony, and relaxed, friendly spotlight sharing.

Tunes are tight, skills are sharp, the friendly feel is real.

The album begins with the cheerful “Forgive;” a straight-ahead, sunny number sparkling with blithe solos from flute and piano over in the pocket rhythm section playing; a welcoming opener.

“Labor Day” sounds similarly summer-y, flowing faster, brash and optimistic, with Coltrane-like fast runs and high-flying energy that Ikawa boosts. Plaxico and Lewis chime in, carrying things to a big finish.

A playful, off-center beat announces “Prince Eleventy,” its chunky momentum and bop feel unfurling in episodes serene or hot, alto and drums swapping fours as Lewis erupts at the end.

Lewis also spices Ikawa’s gorgeous “Butterfly” after both Ikawa and Steckler celebrate its serene mood, resolving in unison riffing.

The breezy “I’d Know It If I Heard It” also spreads things around in relaxed, friendly sharing; its uplift feels sincere, sweet.

It sets up the agile unity of “Show Some Class,” alto and piano beautifully matched, Plaxico taking his best break on the album in a propulsive trio run with Steckler’s tenor aboard in an “I’ve got this” recap.

“Here and Now” casts a suavely torchy, yearning but mellow mood, Steckler’s alto vulnerable and breathy, then more assertive after Ikawa’s piano nudges into a nice trio section around eloquent Plaxico bass riffing.

“Mission Creep” has a slippery beat and mutating melody to match; happy and playful, but a handful.

“Vegas Mode” ambles in a lounge-y vibe before the beat changes up into a happier, looser feel with conversational warmth and engaging rhythmic development under Steckler’s tenor.

Ending things on a high, “Nunavit” also frames Steckler’s Coltrane-y tenor scales; he scrambles all over the horn on a solid trio foundation. Ikawa’s solo swings quieter but just as complex; and Lewis makes a joyful noise before a smash coda.

THE SHOW

Asked what’s the most challenging tune from the album to play live, Steckler specified “Mission Creep” with its “windy sort of structure and odd meter and syncopation.” He said, “If you like obstacle courses, though, it’s fun to blow over!”

Playing the album’s tunes onstage is conversational, since the tunes are. “Mostly we talk through transitions and intros/outros,” said Steckler. “If we’re feeling in a certain way, you may hear variations in those spots.” He said, “The energy and ‘playing to the room’ on any given night can influence the level of interaction, solo length or a host of other factors.”

Those include the respect Steckler feels for Caffe Lena where he led Old Friends Beckoned as a trio last September. The Schenectady native (now living and teaching in Middlebury, Vermont) gratefully noted how the Caffe had “opened up their programming to ‘beyond folk’” and welcomed him.

However, the January 11 show features bassist Tarik Shah subbing for the unavailable Plaxico. Steckler has played with Shah since meeting in jam sessions a year ago.“Amazingly (Shah) also knows Yayoi and Lonnie from a different time in NYC…he lent Lonnie his bass at the WAMC show.”

They’ll play songs from the new album plus “standards…as audibles,” said Steckler.

The players meet in Old Friends Beckoned amid busy schedules elsewhere. For his summer birthday celebration-fundraiser, Steckler played with Julian Gerstin Sextet, Heard, and his own Matty’s Marauders songwriting project. Other recent projects include “Elf!” at Dorset Playhouse and gigs with Maxine Linehan, Shannon Roy, Tim Olsen, Planet Kniffen, Wanda Houston, Freddi Shehadi, Matt Cusson and Gruppo Mondo. He plans shows with Pretzil Stex (onstage, he’s Matty Stecks), the band he formed while teaching in Manitoba; plus a reunion of Dead Cat Bounce, the four-saxes combo he formed in Boston while studying at the New England Conservatory. “I’ll be leading jazz engagements at 9 Maple (Saratoga) and Van Dyck/Stella’s (Schenectady) in the coming months,” added Steckler.

Even in such a busy schedule, Old Friends Reckoned stands out. “I’m proudest of how we all got to know one another at different points in our lives, then as collaborators together,” said Steckler. “I think that helped make the record and the shows a near-seamless process.”

Old Friends Beckoned/New Sounds Reckoned plays Caffe Lena (47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs) on Saturday, Jan. 11. Presented through the Caffe’s Peak Jazz Series, sponsored by Joseph & Luann Conlon in memory of Corrine Simonds. 8 p.m. $30.37, members $27.12, students and children $15.18. 518-583-0022 http://www.caffelena.org. It streams live – Caffe Lena TV.

THE BAND (Photos provided, all from WAMC’s The Linda, album release show)