One to Watch: Olga Amelchenko

Out in July one to know about as a priority is Howling Silence from alto saxophonist & composer Olga Amelchenko.

With the saxist on this upcoming recording are pianist Enzo Carniel, bassist Etienne Renard and drummer Jesus Vega plus guest guitarist Matthew Stevens.

The album is to be issued by England based label Edition on 11 July.

Very gathered and measured there’s a seriousness to the Russian’s style. All the tracks are strong but I’d pick out ‘When It’s Time To Say Goodbye’ most for its power and ‘Reset’ for its sheer traction where the pianist is significant at speed.

Check the saxist who was born in 1988 on 2023’s Art District Music release Slaying the Dream, the title of that recording named after a chapter in Angela Davis book Women, Culture and Politics which is a collection of speeches and writings by the political activist first published in 1989.

Howling Silence drummer Vega was also on Slaying the Dream, a small-club Cologne recorded album entitled Live at Loft (2020) and on an earlier release called Shaping Motions that was issued by the Swiss label Unit in 2018.