Portland Oregon’s Rich Halley has long been a masterful tenor saxophonist, able to play with fire but equally superb at blowing with sweet soul. He and his Rich Halley 4 quartet blur the line between modern jazz and avant-garde, finding a way to make it inviting along the way.
A Distant Land is the eighth album by the Rich Halley 4, a combo that’s stayed pretty stable over this time with Halley, Michael Vlatkovich (trombone) and Halley’s son Carson on drums. Clyde Reed was the bassist for most of this run; Andrew Jones is the bassist now.
No matter, Jones has quickly settled in and that’s apparent right off from the tight groove he established with Carson for the opening salvo “Mismatch.” Halley applies his customary flair for using traditional jazz as a foundation for the non-traditional. His tenor pleadings get downright nasty at times, euphonious at other times, and capturing your attention at all times. The rhythm section discreetly slows it down for Vlatkovich’s statements, effectively putting it on a different plane than Halley.
“Crossways Logic” starts off with a Halley/Vltakovich head but becomes an entirely different song when it’s time the succession of solos. Jones’ feature reveals he’s fitting into his new environs like an old vet, crafting his bass figures effectively around Carson’s drums. “Message From Maputo” like “Crossways Logic” feels like two songs in one. Halley reels off an absolutely smoldering solo as the band shifts into a fast swing.
A circular figure of “A Distant Land” provides the platform for simul-soling between Halley and Vlatkovich that continues when they ratchet up the energy leave the repeating motif behind. Jones and Carson Halley unite to forge a hard-swingin’ rhythm locomotive for the elder Halley to ride on for “Subterfuge,” then slow up that train to allow Vlatkovich simmer slowly.
With his ability to create sparks at any tempo, Vlatkovich has long served as the optimal foil to Halley, and his trombone master class graces for first third of “South of South.” The Halleys along with Jones arrive in a calypso state of mind and the elder Halley joyfully jousts with the trombonist.
There’s a spirit of joy that runs through all of A Distant Land, though. Rich Halley and his Rich Halley 4 band keep making these kind of records and there’s no reason to stop.
A Distant Land is available now, and can be obtained via Bandcamp.
- Rich Halley 4 – ‘A Distant Land’ (2026) - September 11, 2026
- John Hollenbeck & the Hot Club Jazz Orchestra – ‘Peace and Justice’ (2026) - September 9, 2026
- Satoko Fujii Orchestra Berlin – ‘Second Attempt’ (2026) - September 1, 2026
