A handful of weeks ago we were highlighting the title track to Hannah Harder’s debut album as a leader The Greatest of These is Love. As I’ve continued to listen to the release, I wanted to write up the tune “I Don’t Know Yet,” another gem. In an interview with Jazz88’s Sam Keenan, Harder explained that she wrote the piece to offer up a tune that’s “hard for no reason.” Given that motivation I am impressed that she wrote a piece that sounds so inspired and complete. The melody certainly does sound like a handful to navigate on the saxophone, reminding me of some of the sprightly navigations that Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker worked through in their piano-less quartet of the 1950s. I’m certainly glad there’s piano on this particular track though! Patrick Adkins takes the first solo and he takes a brisk gait as he climbs across the changes with dexterity. To folks who know their Twin Cities jazz it is no surprise that the rhythm section of Graydon Peterson on bass and Ben Ehrlich on drums provides great support during the first two solos and they both rise to the occasion when it’s time to trade fours. When’s the next show Hannah? I want to bring everybody!
-Sean McPherson
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