17th January 2015: Marlbank reviews Zhenya Strigalev’s Smiling Organizm’s ‘Robin Goodie’

Russian alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev returns with his acclaimed fusion-edged six-piece Smiling Organizm and their second album, Robin Goodie (click here), his second release for Whirlwind Recordings to be released next month on Feb 2. Following their much-praised debut – described as having “all the knife-edge momentum and skilled improvisatory abandon of its leader” by Jazzwise Magazine and “a real sense of a band in the making” by the Financial Times – Strigalev’s band includes Blue Note-signed trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, double bassist Larry Grenadier (known for his work with Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny), electric bassist Tim Lefebvre (sideman to Wayne Krantz and Michael Wollny), pianist Taylor Eigsti (whose many credits include Joshua Redman and Christian McBride) and high-profile drummer Eric Harland (whose recent work includes being a member of bassist Dave Holland’s band Prism, as well as work with Charles Lloyd and McCoy Tyner).

We’ve started getting some great press in for the album and the first review so far is from Marlbank, the highlight below:

“An album that has its rollercoaster qualities but surprising amounts of tenderness stitched in there too, Strigalev on a roll.”
Marlbank (Read full review)

Find details for Zhenya Strigalev’s Smiling Organizm’s Robin Goodie European tour here: Tour Dates

And listen to the title track from the album below: