The history of jazz is often told as a sequence of epic heroes, legends whose careers proceed from one great accomplishment to another. Coincidentally, one widely admired saxophonist has been reading Homer lately. Potter presents his new Odyssey-inspired suite The Sirens in concert.

Pianist Brad Mehldau, left, came by the Village Vanguard to see his friends play. He chats with fellow piansit Ethan Iverson.

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Outside the Village Vanguard.

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Chris Potter, backstage, warming up on bass clarinet.

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Chris Potter shows Eric Harland some music.

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Chris Potter.

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Ethan Iverson.

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Known mostly as a tenor saxophonist, Chris Potter broke out his alto flute, as well as his bass clarinet and soprano saxophone for the gig.

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The Chris Potter quartet.

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Eric Harland.

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Chris Potter.

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Bassist Larry Grenadier.

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Chris Potter (center) performs live at the Village Vanguard.

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The history of jazz is often told as a sequence of epic heroes, legends whose careers proceed from one great accomplishment to another. Coincidentally, the saxophonist Chris Potter, bright-toned and gymnastically powerful, has been reading Homer lately. That's inspired his latest suite of compositions, a collection of tuneful numbers based on The Odyssey. The Sirens is geared largely around a quartet of widely admired musicians, not least of whom is Potter himself.

Like brave Odysseus, Potter returns to a place which has been a home base for him. His quartet celebrates the release of The Sirens at the Village Vanguard in New York. WBGO and NPR Music presented a live radio broadcast and video webcast of the Chris Potter Quartet in concert.

Set List

All compositions by Chris Potter unless otherwise indicated.

• "Wine Dark Sea"
• "Wayfinder"
• "The Owl Of Cranston" (P. Motian)
• "Kalypso"
• "The Sirens"
• "Sky"

Personnel

• Chris Potter, saxophones
• Ethan Iverson, piano
• Larry Grenadier, bass
• Eric Harland, drums

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