Alex Lussenko's Quartet at Black Eyed Sally's
The Alex Lossenko Quartet
Black Eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen and Bar
Hartford
Dec. 18, 2024
Jazz is such a versatile genre that each band seems to have a different lead instrument.
At Jazz Wednesdays at Black Eyed Sally’s, I saw a jazz band led by guitar for the first time. The guitar player was Alex Lossenko, a student at Western Connecticut State University who has graced the stage of the soul food restaurant several times. He was there with the rest of his quartet: Nico Marini on piano, Matthew Munzner on bass, and Elijah Atkins on drums, all WestConn students or alums themselves.
The quartet’s set was a mixture of classic jazz, original songs and even a pop tune or two.
The first that caught my attention was an untitled song written by Lossenko. Guitar is an instrument that has a reputation for overpowering everything else around it, but under Lossenko’s control, it fit in perfectly with Marini’s piano. Lossenko’s light touch on the guitar was reminiscent of the raindrops falling steadily outside the window. Before we knew it, he’d held the audience’s attention for 13 minutes of playing.
The next song that stood out was “Moment’s Notice: by the legendary John Coltrane. I was surprised by how well the song worked, substituting Lossenko’s guitar for Coltrane’s saxophone. It was also a showcase of Atkins’ command of the drums. Not only did he provide the tempo and support for the rest of the band, but he brought the song to life with a flurry of precision strikes right at the song’s crescendo.
Skill isn’t the only quality that determines how well a group plays together. Synergy matters, too. Knowing when to lean into the music or back off to let another member shine can happen only with lots of practice. The Lossenko quartet never stepped on each other. Players gave each other the chance to shine during the hour-long set.
My favorite song of the night was another original by Lossenko, titled “In a Trance.” The funk influences on the song were clear, from the syncopated guitar to the gently rolling notes of the piano and subdued percussion. The key to any truly funky song is the bassline, and Munzer walked his bass all over the stage to provide the undergirding for the rest of the band.
It’s still called the Alex Lossenko Quartet for a reason. His “aw shucks” approach to the crowd belied his nimble fingers, but there was no denying his talent when the song turned to him. His rhythm carried the song into the breakdown, and the audience erupted with applause as he took a gracious step back.
It’s always refreshing to see the next generation of performers live, even more so in the case of Lossenko and his bandmates, who haven’t even completed their studies yet. At such a young age, Lossenko already sounds like a pro, and I’m looking forward to seeing him again at Black Eyed Sally’s.
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