Zela Margossian Quintet - Remedy (2026)

The Zela Margossian Quintet are at crossroads on their Remedy album. Should they for easy-on-the-ears jazz or dig a little deeper and head for the backroads where something more interesting might happen? The latter approach is in full bloom on Waves Unveiled on which pianist and composer Zela Margossian uses her knowledge Armenian folk to construct a track that allows sax player Stuart Vandegraaf to cut loose. In Flight soars and sighs, and while the band always is in control, each member gets a place in the spotlight, with Jacques Emery's short but sweet double bass stealing the show. The fast Repetance features a cool conversation between piano, sax and percussion, before slowing down to a late night vibe.

By contrast tracks like Clarity and Kintsugi are playing it safe. They are not bad as such, but fail to make a lasting impression. The short time money is in the mainstream - it always will be - but the chances of having any longevity increase dramatically when the safety nets are taken away.

Zela Margossian Quintet:
Zela Margossian: piano
Stuart Vandegraaff: saxophones
Jacques Emery: double bass
Alexander Inman-Hislop: drums
Adem Yilmaz: percussion