Universal Sounds

Tenor saxophonist and improvising composer Odean Pope is certainly a player who has long been on the international stage; whether with his own units or with the cooperative Catalyst and mentor Max Roach's ensembles, Pope has been renowned for decades. In a sense, his new recording, Universal Sounds presents a drum chorus in semi-counterpoint to Pope's oft-recorded Saxophone Choir, though one notices fractured differences as much as uniting sound-rhythms. The result of this expanded, cross-rhythmic small group is an exploration of decidedly orchestral overtones, often with tense and incisive focus that gives this very large-sounding ensemble a strong sense of forward motion. In addition to the presence of Marshall Allen on alto saxophone and EWI, the group includes bassist Lee Smith and drummers Craig McIver, Jim Hamilton and Warren Smith.