Noah Preminger is a Boston-based saxophonist with a warm tone, impressive improvisational chops and a strong sense of swing. On Zigsaw: Music of Steve Lampert, Preminger departs from the more traditional sound of his previous releases. "Zigsaw" is an almost 50-minute composition that trumpeter Steve Lampert wrote for Preminger and the rest of his band, which includes frequent collaborator Jason Palmer (trumpet), John O'Gallagher (alto saxophone), Kris Davis (piano), Rob Schwimmer (Haken continuum synthesizer, clavinet), Kim Cass (bass) and Rudy Royston (drums).
Schwimmer is a key element in the soundscape of Zigsaw. The continuum and clavinet create an icy futuristic aura that defines the mood of the composition. The main theme is two bars of dark twisted synth work which are met well by swift contorted saxophone lines. The piece generally alters between two modes, one being of more atmospheric periods where the background is given a mysterious ethereal quality by synths and the soloing is more reserved. These spacious passages come after hectic portions that are typically started by the main motif of the piece before one of the band members takes a solo.
Palmer and Preminger are given the most opportunities for extended soloing and maintain the high-quality that is commonplace in their work. Some of the best moments of "Zigsaw" are when the two musicians improvise simultaneously. Other highlights can be found in impressive moments between the soloists and their accompaniment. When Davis and Royston support Palmer and Royston, it is evident that there is a strong synergy between both respective duos.
During Palmer's impressive solo around the 15-minute mark, Davis' comping gets progressively more wild and unkempt. The pianist's avant-garde nature clashes extremely well with the more straight-ahead approach of Palmer's swift and skillful soloing. In the last third of the piece, Preminger's playing gets more aggressive and Royston follows suit with intense vibrant drumming. By the time it ends, it's clear that Zigsaw is more than just another quality Preminger release. It's an album that shows that Preminger has no problem succeeding outside of his usual environment.
