Leigh Pilzer: Beatin’ the Odds

STRANGE WOMAN RECORDS (RECORDED AUGUST & OCTOBER 2023)

Beatin’ the Odds is baritone saxophonist and composer/arranger Leigh Pilzer’s musical celebration of surviving cancer and living through COVID. What impresses me most about this session is Pilzer’s compositions, ranging from the opening Basie-like swinger “SKCC” to the slapstick-inspired “Waterkress.” Equally impressive is the way in which Pilzer has arranged these tunes, providing a blend of ensemble and solo playing that makes this seven- piece ensemble sound larger than it actually is. It all comes together on the straight-ahead swinger “Last Year, Lost Year,” with inspired solos from alto saxophonist Tim Green and trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse. I was less than impressed with tentative and often cliché-laden solos on many of the other eight selections on this set. The overly boisterous drumming (or it could be the way in which the drums were recorded) is also problematic, giving the impression that this was a drummer-led session. Depsite those concerns, congratulation to Pilzer on beatin’ the odds with cancer and I hope her next release beats the odds by making a more comprehensive statement on small group jazz.

BOTTOM LINE: Beatin’ the Odds has a lot of things going for it — great small group arrangements, a variety of styles and wonderful players like the leader baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer, bassist Amy Shook and alto saxophonist Ebban Dorsey. Sadly, it lacks the track-by-track consistency to make it a real winner.