Michael Attias, John Hebert, Satoshi Takeishi - Renku (2005)

New York-based saxophonist/composer Michaël Attias makes his Playscape debut with Renku, which documents his two-year old working trio of the same name featuring bassist John Hebert and drummer Satoshi Takeishi. Named after a style of Japanese linked poetry, this trio has an intense but intricate and diversely cultivated sound befitting both its name and the eclectic background of its leader, an Israeli-born son of Moroccan parents who was raised in Paris and the American midwest. Critics write that Attias "blows with great authority and passion" (AllAboutJazz.com), recognizing his trio's "knottily vibrant compositions" (Time Out-New York) and "perpetually shifting tunes, richness of timbre, and a singular personality" (Village Voice). Renku features seven Attias compositions, as well as selections by Hebert, collectively composed works by the trio and Thelonious Monk's "Work," though the group prides itself on blurring the lines between notated music and improvisation.

Renku is also the name of Attias's limber trio, which makes light, thoughtful work of his interesting group of compisitions here. Hebert (who also contributes two themes) is busy and able, and Takeishi is attractively sensitive to his best role, playing deftly but quietly a lot of the way. Attias himself plays alto with a songful, unsquealing timbre, making his long lines move with logical fluency.
— —The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (8th Edition)

Michaël's tone on alto sax is consistently enchanting and often warm, yet robust. His tunes remind me of occasionally of those by the Thomas Chapin Trio: tasty, tricky, inventive, elegant and, at times, bittersweet. This is a wonderful trio, well balanced, both melodic and exciting, tight-knit and constantly shifting in their dynamics. Both Michael's and John's writing is intriguing throughout, putting the trio through their changes and navigating the rapids with seeming ease. A most impressive debut from a triumphant trio of Brooklyn's best. - Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery