Smitten with the innovative attack of Tether, the latest album by Alden Hellmuth, I purchased a $39 seat at the bar of the fifty-person capacity Portland jazz venue The 1905 to hear the New York based saxophonist’s band on Thursday, September 10. I was disappointed to subsequently learn that Hellmuth wouldn’t be accompanied by the musicians featured on Tether.
Only one selection from Tether was performed in a 65-minute set, and even it was rendered in a comparatively conventional form by Hellmuth and a Portland based ensemble of trumpeter Noah Simpson, pianist Kerry Politzer, bassist Garrett Baxter and drummer Ken Mastrogiovanni.
Aside from the single Tether track, the setlist included several unrecorded new compositions, a Coltrane cover and an appearance by vocalist Lo Steele on “Save Your Love for Me.” I may not have heard what I paid for, but I received an insightful clinic on the formidable talents of five Portland artists.