Listen to Hero Trio on Qobuz
“Ask jazz nonbelievers why they can't relate and what usually comes back is some variation of: it's too cerebral, it has no sense of humor, it doesn't make me smile. Happily, even the most fervent of the jazz fearful needn't run from Hero Trio. After 15 consistently artful and ambitious albums most often recorded with small groups (including Bird Calls, his 2015 heartfelt tribute to chief influence Charlie Parker), savvy alto sax star Rudresh Mahanthappa steps into the role of jazz superhero with a sprightly all-covers set that's a perfect panacea for these serious times.”