Chris Cheek - Keepers of the Eastern Door (2025)

Saxophonist Chris Cheek's playing was once described by Steve Swallow and Carla Bley as "the very embodiment of gentle, graceful lyricism." They also referred to Cheek as "a master of the sucker punch." In this beautifully recorded session with the Bill Frisell Trio, Cheek opts for quiet jabbing, sedate tempos, and even outright accessibility over any sneaky wallops. Instead of igniting into an inferno that the instrumental power assembled would suggest, Keepers of the Eastern Door is content to simmer. The St. Louis, Missouri, native and Berklee graduate has always had a way with sentimental standards as he proved with the pair of live albums recorded at Barcelona's Jamboree Club in 2000. Three tunes sequenced together at the album's center are emblematic of Cheek's musical interests. He finds inspiration in "On A Clear Day," from the 1965 Broadway musical, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever—which Barbra Streisand would popularize in a 1970 film adaptation. Falling into a groove from the first notes, with the always resourceful Frisell sharing the lead, Cheek plays in his most sensitive and beautiful way. While not a complete success, the quartet's meander through 17th century English composer Henry Purcell's, "Lost Is My Quiet," is fascinating. Cheek and Frisell double parts to start and both eventually play countermelodies. Those approaches vary throughout the piece, at times catching the essence of this bitter love lament. In a deliberately clashing juxtaposition, what follows is a graceful cover of The Beatles' "From Me To You." Guitarist Frisell, who's never been shy about transforming pop music, is firmly at home, delicately picking his way, and nearly stealing the show. An all-star set that satisfies on its own terms.

TRACKLIST

1. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - Kino's Canoe
2. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - Smoke Rings
3. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - O Sacrum Convivium!
4. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - On A Clear Day
5. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - Lost Is My Quiet
6. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - From Me To You
7. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - Keepers Of The Eastern Door
8. Chris Cheek;Bill Frisell;Tony Scherr;Rudy Royston - Go On, Dear