Carl Bartlett, Jr.: Next-Gen Pop

Alto-saxophonist Carl Bartlett, Jr. strides confidently onto New York’s modern jazz scene, band in tow, with debut album Hopeful. Self-identifying his style as “straight-ahead/progressive,” the tracks sound like the free-spirit, lively bounce, and inhuman virtuosity of bebop being filtered through a tireless study of the genre’s evolution, ultimately hunting for something fresh, uplifting, and deliciously moody. Standout “Quantum Leaps And Bounds” is a frenetic tradeoff of sax and guitar solos, speed-freaking without feeling soulless and going down a little like Monk (fittingly, they’ve been busting out “Straight, No Chaser” at shows). Jazz heads can see what Carl’s about on Nov. 30 at The Record Collector in Bordentown, NJ, where he’ll be appearing with his quartet. Tickets are $12, or you can shell out $15 at the door.