Take Five with Altin Sencalar
Did you ever wonder what your favorite musicians are listening to, or the recordings that influenced them? “Take Five” is a look at the music that inspires and excites them. It’s difficult to choose ONLY five recordings!
Trombonist Altin Sencalar’s (pronounced “Sinclair”) new CD Unleashed “echoes the mid-1960s explorations of Bobby Hutcherson and Grachan Moncur III and showcases Sencalar’s originality performing, writing, and arranging. Altin is an educator, composer and author, born in California but raised in Texas, home to esteemed trombonists Wayne Henderson and Frank Lacy. While attending the University of Texas at Austin he became a sought-after player in the Austin music scene. He also earned a Masters in Music Performance in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, serving as Graduate Assistant to trombonist Michael Dease and bassist Rodney Whittaker. Altin is currently based in New York City and is on the music faculties at Iona University in New Rochelle, NY and is Visiting Professor of Jazz Trombone at the Roots, Jazz, and American Music program at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is also serving as an Artist in Residence at Missouri State University for the 2024/2025 school year.
Simpático — The Brian Lynch/ Eddie Palmeri Project
This album is one that completely changed my perception of what music meant to me. Hearing the horns so present, especially the trombone, made me realize that I wanted to be a part of a larger picture in music. This album is one that also made me realize that the trombone can be a front-line instrument. It’s inspired me to become a leader and write music that allows me to showcase the trombone's many sides, both in color and ability to play at all styles, tempos, and ranges. To this day, I can still sing every song by heart, and my CD doesn’t spin anymore because it’s that worn out!
The Trombone Master — J.J. Johnson
This album is on many trombonists lists for their top albums. However, this album for me wasn’t initially because of J.J. although, later on, I found his perfect playing on this album to speak to me. This album features the great Nat Adderley on cornet. When I heard his solo on “Misterioso” I couldn’t believe the amount of blues, bebop, and swing coming out from his horn. I love J.J.’s solo on this, but Nat Adderley is responsible for my love of this type of blues playing. J.J. on this album is nothing less than iconic, however the raw power and personality of Nat Adderley made me a believer in the tradition of blues and swing.
Soul Station — Hank Mobley
Soul Station is an iconic Blue Note Records Recording. For me, listening to Hank Mobley has always been a masterclass on no frills true to form jazz language and swing. His playing on this record brought many things to my playing such as clarity, intention, and control. These aspects of Hanks playing is what separates him from many. There is no throw away anything in this record and this showed me how to approach my improvisation in that same light all while maintaining authenticity.
Everlasting Life — Kim Burrell
Kim Burrell is a Texas native, and being from Texas, I was, of course, exposed to her music. The song that first introduced me to Kim’s music was “I Come to You More Than I Give.” The entire album has allowed me to see where church, jazz harmony, and freedom of expression all meet in one. Growing up Catholic, I wasn’t exposed to this music until I found Jazz music, which intersects with many Church musicians. Kim’s singing is nothing short of inspiring, and it has allowed me to bring vocal aspects into my playing when performing. There is a lots of evidence of jazz influence, especially in her compositions. This album is something I listened to during my first few years out of high school, and I still find this album to be a complete set of excellence.
Jarrod Lawson- Jarrod Lawson
I find inspiration from people who are writing new music and doing their own thing. I found this back in my early undergraduate studies. While I don’t know Jarrod Lawson personally, I would love to collaborate with him because I respect his music and takes on spirituality and music. I loved his opening track on the album, “Music and Its Magical Way.” I am also very inspired by the many styles this album showcases, and it's certainly a reason why my albums normally have many different styles of music as well as my original compositions having multiple styles as well.
Selected Discography
Leader/ Collaborator
2017- Introducing Altin Sencalar- Altin Sencalar (Self Released)
2020- Realization- Sencalar/Glassman Quintet (D-Clef Records)
2021- Reconnected- Altin Sencalar (Next Level)
2022- Live at Monks Jazz EP- Altin Sencalar (Self Released)
2023- Personal Preference- Something Blue (Posi-Tone)
2023- In Good Standing- Altin Sencalar (Posi-Tone)
2024- Discover the Present- Altin Sencalar (Posi-Tone)
2025- Unleashed- Altin Sencalar (Posi-Tone)
2025- In The Beginning- Something Blue (Posi-Tone)
Facebook: Altin Brennan Sencalar
Instagram: @altin101
X: @asencalarmusic
TikTok: @asencalar
YouTube: Altin Sencalar Music
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