Alice Leggett - Birdsong (2025)

“Birdsong”, Leggett’s debut album, is due to be released on the Dutch label ZenneZ Records in early May 2025 but is already available for purchase at gigs. The record features twelve original compositions by Leggett and features a sextet that includes the regular quartet of Leggett, Im, Klaassen and Kuhne augmented by the presence of two British musicians, tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock and the Scottish born trumpeter Alistair Payne, now based in the Netherlands. Payne also acts as the album’s mixing and mastering engineer. It’s an elaborately packaged release and the album brochure is a testament to Leggett’s love of poetry.

Tightly woven, progressively modern sounding without being atonal or full on avant-garde there’s plenty of space for in-depth examination of themes and motifs. Beyond the ‘Birdsong’ and ‘Million Dreams’ suites elaborate a cappella soloing from Leggett on ‘Solace’ abounds. When the band develops more traction it’s even more engaging.

The album title is a dedication to Leggett’s mother, Michelle Bird, and the title track is a two part composition that allows the quintet members plenty of opportunity to stretch out as Leggett explains in her album notes; “As a composer and bandleader my goal has always been to write music that gives the musicians I choose to play with the space in which to express themselves fully, and I’m grateful to them for embracing that space so fully”.

Introduced by Klaassen at the bass, joined by Im’s piano arpeggios, Leggett’s fluttering alto and Kuhne’s cymbal chimes and splashes the first part began in atmospheric fashion, with the twin saxes eventually combining to state the main melodic theme. Hitchcock then emerged as the first featured soloist. A short unaccompanied piano passage appeared to signal the transition into the second part of the composition with the saxes again combining to state the theme prior to an expansive piano solo, with Im accompanied by double bass and the bustle of vigorously brushed drums. A second unison sax passage was positively anthemic and was complemented by Kuhn’s powerful drumming as the quintet signed off with a flourish.

Alice Leggett, alto saxophone
Alex Hitchcock, tenor saxophone
Alistair Payne, trumpet
Chaerin Im, piano
Tijs Klaassen, double bass
Wouter Kühne, drums

TRACKLIST

1. Alice Leggett - Sunflower Song
2. Alice Leggett - Birdsong Part 1
3. Alice Leggett - Birdsong Part 2
4. Alice Leggett - A Million Dreams I
5. Alice Leggett - Fire at Full Moon
6. Alice Leggett - Solace
7. Alice Leggett - A Million Dreams II
8. Alice Leggett - Repose
9. Alice Leggett - A Million Dreams III
10. Alice Leggett - Zoë
11. Alice Leggett - Remember the Blue Sky
12. Alice Leggett - Song for Who You Could've Been