{"product_id":"eric-alexander-fifth-quadrant","title":"Eric Alexander - Fifth Quadrant","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLogic may dictate that a four-part entity cannot have a fifth quadrant. But on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFifth Quadrant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, acclaimed saxophonist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric Alexander\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e makes the impossible feel inevitable. Alexander’s new quartet brings together four masterful musicians and longtime friends: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCyrus Chestnut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on piano, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNat Reeves\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on bass, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarl Allen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on drums. Their first studio recording as a quartet captures a rare musical chemistry—joyful, soulful, combustible and deeply intuitive, where performer and listener connect on a level beyond the intellectual.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album marks Alexander’s debut as a leader for Smoke Sessions Records, extending a longstanding relationship with the label and Smoke Jazz Club. Alexander has previously recorded and performed extensively at the club, including the 2025 release \u003cem\u003eSplit Decision\u003c\/em\u003e with Vincent Herring, albums with the collective One for All, and numerous dates with his mentor and longtime collaborator, pianist Harold Mabern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat history resonates throughout \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFifth Quadrant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Chestnut shares Alexander’s expansive appetite for music across genres and generations, while Reeves brings a deep connection to the Mabern\/Alexander tradition. Reeves and Allen also share a history dating to their work with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJackie McLean\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album’s program moves freely across the American Songbook, pairing Alexander originals with standards and unexpected selections. The title track is a hard-charging minor blues born from an overtone exercise Alexander used with his students. Chestnut’s soulful arrangement of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStevie Wonder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e’s “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRibbon in the Sky\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” transforms the pop classic into a tender yet scintillating quartet performance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOther highlights include the wistful \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRodgers \u0026amp; Hammerstein\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e standard “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt Might as Well Be Spring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” the emotionally charged “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDon’t Misunderstand\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” and “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne Hundred Ways\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuincy Jones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e’s sophisticated 1981 hit. Alexander’s “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNewk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” pays tribute to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSonny Rollins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBit by Bit\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” carries a more personal story, honoring his fiancée’s father.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album closes with “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” a four-note musical statement of Alexander’s philosophy: “It’s just to be. Let life lead you, just be.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe CD edition also features two extended live performances recorded at Smoke Jazz Club during a celebration of Mabern’s 90th birthday.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Smoke Sessions","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":60447899910489,"sku":"SDZ-56620","price":29.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":60447899943257,"sku":"SDZ-56621","price":17.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/Eric-Alexander-Fifth-Quadrant-LP-Vinyl.jpg?v=1794400144","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/eric-alexander-fifth-quadrant","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}