The Empress: Square One

CELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED MARCH 21, 2025)

Fresh on the heels of the third release from Artemis, an all-female quintet, comes Square One, the debut release from The Empress, a sextet led by four women saxophonists. Alto saxophonist Pureum Jin organized the band to honor jazz icons like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane while providing a platform for women instrumentalists. To achieve her first goal, The Empress works through eleven tunes, including classics from Cedar Walton, John Coltrane, Benny Golson and Oliver Nelson. To achieve her second goal, Jin is joined by alto player Erena Terakubo, tenor player Chelsea Baratz and baritone player Lauren Sevian. “Instant Composure,” a tune written by Michael Lutzeier, who Jin worked for in the early 2010s, sets the stage for a session of blistering tempi and nimble solos. The four saxophonists, accompanied by Steve Ash on piano, Joey Ranieri on bass and Pete Van Nostrand on drums, achieve a big band sound on this up tempo swinger. The driving tempos continue to dominate the session on tunes such as “Caravan,” “But Not For Me” and “Bolivia.” Things slow down on Jin’s arrangement of “Everything Happens To Me,” as she soars over the sax section. On many of the tunes, such as “But Not For Me” their unison playing is reminiscent of the Four Brothers. At other time, like on the opening of Lutzeier’s “Reminiscing,” they sound like the World Saxophone Quartet. Jin’s arrangements give everyone an opportunity to shine, including members of the rhythm section. The Empress may be trying to prove a point about women musicians, as they tend to take most of the tunes, with the exception of “Everything Happens To Me,” “Mr. Syms” and “Yearnin’” at breakneck speeds with a succession of energized solos. Considering that Square One was released during Women’s History Month, The Empress could have made a stronger statement with an all-female rhythm section and tunes written by women composers. Maybe next time!

BOTTOM LINE: You’ve heard of “The Four Brothers.” Square One introduces you to the sound of “The “Four Sisters — saxophonists Lauren Sevian, Pureum Jin, Erena Terakubo and Chelsea Baratz — as they work through a set of timeless jazz classics. The torrid tempi and exuberant solos, however, diminish the pure beauty of some of the tunes and their exquisite playing.