Yam Yam

About

Mark Turner and his cohort had to know they were involved in something special when they made <i>Yam Yam</i> in late 1994. A virtuoso tenor saxophonist with strong post-bop credentials and a fresh outlook gained from deep study of overlooked forebears like Warne Marsh, Turner came to his debut session with a book of evocative original pieces and a fiendishly difficult arrangement of John Coltrane’s “Moment’s Notice.” Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel brought in “Cubism,” a signature piece he’d later record on <i>The Enemies of Energy</i>. Pianist Brad Mehldau weighed in with the obscure “Subtle Tragedy,” its intricate unison passages capturing the chemistry between Turner and Rosenwinkel—one of the most striking and original front lines in jazz during the ’90s and early ’00. Bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy, the core of the Mehldau-led trio that would go on to major success with Warner Bro., provided a ton of rhythm-section savvy for the <i>Yam Yam</i> quintet—a supergroup for the age. (Turner signed with Warner Bro. as well, making influential albums including the classic <i>Dharma Days</i>.) .

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