Charlie Parker is a figure of permanent fascination, his inestimable contributions to jazz eternally reverberating across space and time. For Alex Sadnik, the choice to reimagine some of Parker’s most beloved standards arose from the desire for the structure of practice sessions without necessarily having a reason for them. On the heels of a global pandemic with no gigs for the foreseeable future, Sadnik found himself in jam sessions instead, reaching for “Ornithology” and realizing he’d forgotten how to play it. Given how important Parker was to Sadnik’s musical growth, both in jazz and as a saxophonist, this seemed like an auspicious opportunity to revisit the man’s music: what if he came out of this really just knowing all these songs again?
In this way, the album faithfully lives up to its name. A sideways reference to the man whose music inspired it all, nodding at the freedom of movement, the biological necessity for birds to travel, soaring through an expanse of sky, using their wings without thinking, simply doing the thing that their bodies have been built to do: drifting, floating, swooping, flying. Flight. - Ana Gavrilovska, Detroit, Michigan
credits
released May 26, 2023
Quintet (Side A)
Jay Bellerose - drums
Dave Easley - pedal steel guitar
Philip Glenn - violin
Alex Sadnik - alto saxophone
Anthony Shadduck - double bass
Quartet (Side B)
Billy Mohler - bass
Tina Raymond - drums
Alex Sadnik - alto saxophone
Kris Tiner - trumpet
Produced and Mixed by Chris Schlarb
at BIG EGO, Long Beach, CA.
Recorded March 5th and 20th, 2022
Engineered by Devin O'Brien
Mastered by JJ Golden @ Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA.
Cover art and layout by David J. Woodruff
Liner notes by Ana Gavrilovska
All songs by Charlie Parker
All arrangements by Alex Sadnik except,
"Donna Lee" arranged by Alex Sadnik and Doug Carter
One of the most beautiful records I’ve ever heard. I was really excited to see this as a follow up Byways. The addition of Parker to the mix is otherworldly.
I’d buy everything Dave touches without hesitation. Both Ballads and Byways really transport you into a vibe that’s truly unique. bpmccann5
I was brought here after listening to a live performance of Makaya's on you tube. I instantly loved the song Holy Lands so much that I had to see if the album version was the same rendition as the live one. Then I listened to the whole album! Universal Beings is a just a groove... It's a mix of traditional and something new, very nice. pandr1900
Strong debut album as a leader/composer/saxophonist. Smith leads 21 musicians through jazz styles from edgy to calming. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 18, 2015