| Jazz |
“The Big Room”: A Modern Jazz Milestone
From the very first track, The Big Room announces itself as a landmark jazz recording, one that feels instantly timeless. Brimming with high-flying compositions and driven by a collective of artists whose solo careers already speak volumes, this album is a passionate, deeply collaborative effort. Rich in rhythmic complexity and marked by arrangements as intricate as they are delectable, The Big Room captures the imagination of seasoned jazz aficionados and newcomers alike. It is a radiant showcase of a genre in full bloom, with moments of lyrical beauty that cut as deep as they dazzle.
This release also marks a first: the appearance of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt alongside rising star saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, whom we previously spotlighted here. Their interplay is nothing short of extraordinary, driven by a shared sensitivity and elegance that speaks to their individual artistry and mutual respect. Add to that the remarkable touch of drummer Joe Farnsworth, the ever-in-demand pianist Emmet Cohen, and bassist Yasushi Nakamura, whose subtle phrasing is a masterclass in restraint, and you have an ensemble whose chemistry transforms each track into a small marvel, inviting repeat listens with ever-growing admiration.
A pillar of modern jazz and one of the most respected drummers of his generation, Joe Farnsworth has built his legacy playing alongside titans such as Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Cedar Walton, and Kenny Barron. Long celebrated as a torchbearer of tradition, Farnsworth brings that same reverence to his latest chapter, as a leader and creative catalyst. In recent years, he’s pushed beyond the traditionalist label, collaborating with progressive voices like Kurt Rosenwinkel and Immanuel Wilkins while remaining anchored in the values that define his craft: swing, soul, and sincerity.
The Big Room is the natural next step, an album that honors the deep roots of jazz while embracing new possibilities. It is a stirring reminder that jazz is a living language, and few speak it with as much clarity, heart, and drive as Farnsworth.
“There are so many masters who are no longer with us,” Farnsworth reflects, referencing close collaborators like Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, and Harold Mabern, all of whom passed in recent years. “I realized it was time to start playing with the younger cats, just like Art Blakey and Cedar Walton did. They can inspire you, and change how you play. And I can be freer to be myself.”
The Big Room is, in every sense, a statement of excellence. It surprises, it seduces, and it effortlessly finds its way into your current obsessions. With compositions from Hanahan, Joel Ross, Pelt, Farnsworth, Cohen, and others, it’s nearly impossible to isolate individual voices, the artistic fusion here approaches the sublime. This is not just a great album. It’s a necessary one.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, July 11th 2025
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Musicians :
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
Sarah Hanahan – alto saxophone
Joel Ross – vibraphone
Emmet Cohen – piano
Yasushi Nakamura – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums
Recorded January 23, 2025
at a “Daylight Session,” SMOKE Jazz Club, NYC
Produced by Paul Stache & Damon Smith
Recorded by Paul Stache & Richard Bernard
Mixed by Chris Allen & Paul Stache
Mastered by Chris Allen
Photography by Osmel Portuondo Azcuy
Photography assisted by Nailé Piñeiro Aguila & Fabio Roman Garcia
Liner Notes by Shaun Brady
Tracklist :
Continuance
What Am I Waiting For?
All Said and Done
The Big Room
Radical
I Fall in Love Too Easily
You Already Know
Prime Time