Noah Preminger - Haymaker (2013)

The Noah Preminger Group's Haymaker is the tenor saxophonist's third album. Haymaker sees Preminger lead a kindred-spirit band of top-flight players: guitarist Ben Monder, double-bassist Matt Pavolka and drummer Colin Stranahan. The album showcases a brace of fresh Preminger compositions, along with one number penned by Monder, the Annie standard "Tomorrow" and a cover of jam-band rocker Dave Matthews' "Don't Drink the Water." Blending atmosphere and energy, the Noah Preminger Group can remind a listener of the Motian/Frisell/Lovano trio in one tune and the Mark Turner/Kurt Rosenwinkel pairings in the next – even as this band has its own, individual soundprint.