“Umami” is the latest release from Basel-based quintet ASRA.

Band leader Catherine Tang was inspired by the sounds and images around her and captivated by atmospheric textures and innovative improvisation. These gave her the willingness to explore unconventional musical pathways, and in 2022, she created her project ASRA, where the group blended the worlds of modern jazz, electroacoustic, and pop moments. Last year, the cross-genre group released its debut album, Nocturnal Journey.

In this quintet, with Ruben Kilchling on alto-saxophone, Joseph Bijon on guitar, Paul Pattusch on bass and Lucas Zibulski on drums, Tang plays the keys and composes exclusively original compositions emulating a journey through soundscapes between American and European jazz under warm acoustic arches and electroacoustic shimmer.

“Umami” kicks off with spacey chords on keys and syncopated drum grooves over a tresillo pulse. Before joining the mix, Kilchling introduces slow vibrato and starts off with long sustained notes in contrast to the drums.

Throughout the track, such push and pull of fast and slow-paced melodic lines and grooves is the core to the overall texture and atmosphere. Bijon’s funky and rhythmic chordal playing leads of a somewhat minor climax in the middle of the track before the whole quintet drive the track to its true climactic moment.

If we try to break down the song, we can find that the sax provides most of the melodic lines over the harmony and rhythm section by other members. Although the roles switch in multiple instances, collectively, they sound perfectly in tune with each other’s quirks and styles.