MAHAKALA MUSIC (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 6, 2026)
British historian Theodore Zeldin described conversation as a “meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet, they don’t just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them and engage in new trains of thought.” That is exactly what saxophonist Chad Fowler and pianist Eri Yamamoto achieve on Polkadots & Moonbeams, a musical conversation of the highest order. On “Midnight Mourning Mourning Dove,” the duo transforms the concept of the blues, with Yamamoto’s chordal abstractions underscoring the gutsy, biting sound of Fowler’s saxophone. Much like classic call-and-response singing, Fowler’s preaching and Yamamoto’s responses reshape the feel of gospel music on “He Always Knew He’d Be a Preacher,” which also incorporates a touch of Yamamoto’s modern-day stride. They draw different implications from the playful character of “Russian Dragon,” with Yamamoto’s discordant rhythms and Fowler’s angular leaps and bounds. Six of the album’s eight pieces were created spontaneously, further demonstrating the musicians’ ability to engage in new trains of thought. Fowler’s flute establishes a meditative mood on “When You Die You Become Sentient Energy,” enhanced by Yamamoto’s chordal solo. The joyful exchange on “We Can’t Dance, Can We” captures exactly what a conversation should be. At different points, Fowler leads and Yamamoto follows, then the roles reverse. Their conversational approach also brings new life to the album’s two composed pieces. Yamamoto’s accompaniment gives a semI-classical character to Fowler’s somber, delicate melody on “Ash,” a tune written after Fowler returned home from his father’s funeral with his ashes. The title track, which was played at his wedding, takes on a more mysterious character, recalling the introspective and oblique approach Ran Blake brought to standards. Fowler and Yamamoto conjure memories of other saxophone-piano conversations, combining the intensity of Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy with the lyricism of Stan Getz and the spiritual dimension of Horace Parlan and Archie Shepp. Polkadots & Moonbeams is a welcome addition to the recordings that illuminate the art of musical conversation—an art that, as Theodore Zeldin suggests, “doesn’t just reshuffle the cards, it creates new cards.”
BOTTOM LINE: While touring with the group Sparks in 2022, saxophonist Chad Fowler and pianist Eri Yamamoto began discussing the possibilities of a duo session. That discussion ultimately became the musical conversation heard on Polkadots & Moonbeams. Like any meaningful conversation, Fowler and Yamamoto approach the session with open ears, mutual respect and a spirit of exploration.
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