Erica Von Kleist - Erica von Kleist & No Exceptions (2010)

A newcomer on the New York scene, alto saxophonist-composer Erica von Kleist steps out from the ranks of Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society to present her auspicious debut as a leader. She shows a wide stylistic range here, from the funky “E’s Boogaloo,” with its drum-‘n’-bass rhythms and Brecker Brothers-ish swagger, to the breezy Brazilian-flavored “Monday Drivers” (with the leader on flute), the salsa-fied “Erica With a ‘C'” and the bluesy “Dirty Martini,” which features some potent call-and-response with trumpeter Tatum Greenblatt. Also noteworthy: an Afro-Cuban-fueled rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and a laidback alto-piano duet with Dan Nimmer on Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust.”