Preview/Review

Michael Sarian's 'Live at Cliff Bell's' is Jazz at Its Most Spontaneous

Toronto-born, Buenos Aires-bred, and Brooklyn-based trumpeter Michael Sarian is set to release Live at Cliff Bell's on September 13, 2024, via Shifting Paradigm Records. This album, Sarian's third quartet outing, captures the raw energy of a live performance at the legendary Detroit venue.

Recorded during their spring '23 tour, the album features Sarian's longtime collaborators: Santiago Leibson on piano, Marty Kenney on bass, and Nathan Ellman-Bell on drums. The quartet delivers a mix of tunes from their previous two albums and new compositions, all infused with swing, Armenian sensibilities, and plenty of room for group exploration.

"Living at the End of the World," the album's second single, is out now. It's a bluesy shuffle inspired by Haruki Murakami's novel Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Sarian composed it during the early days of the pandemic, offering a fresh perspective on what "the end of the world" could mean.

The album's tracklist is a traipse through Sarian's musical influences and personal experiences. "Primo," dedicated to his cousin, showcases Sarian's exploration of unconventional scales. "Aurora" reflects on a tragic mass shooting, while "The Pilgrim" pays homage to Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava.

Sarian's Armenian heritage is reflected in "Yis Ku Ghimetn Chim Kidi," an arrangement of an 18th-century Armenian troubadour's piece, and "Glass Mountains," a tribute to the Armenian people of Artsakh.

From L-R: Santiago Leibson, Michael Sarian, Nathan Ellman Bell, Marty Kenney

Critics have praised Sarian's previous work for its "luxurious sprawl" and "clarity of concept." Phil Freeman of The NYC Jazz Record notes that the band's sound evokes the "stadium jazz" of V.S.O.P. or Milestone-era McCoy Tyner.

Live at Cliff Bell's is available for pre-order now.