John Adamian on Steve Lehman

"He plays jazz, yes — he was a Charlie Parker fanatic at 10, and studied with Connecticut saxophone giants Anthony Braxton and the late Jackie McLean — but he also works extensively in what’s called 'spectrum music,' which is an approach that pays special attention to the physical properties of sound. … Lehman went to Wesleyan, where he studied and performed with Braxton. Meanwhile, he attended McLean’s sax seminars at Hartt. Braxton and McLean urged students to 'find a personal music,' says Lehman. … Listening to Lehman’s music, particularly to his exciting new record, Travail, Transformation, and Flow, the analogies from visual arts come to mind. The microtonal harmonies and unusual paired timbres (vibes and tuba, for instance) can make one think of the paintings of Josef Albers, who explored the ways that our perception of colors changed in different contexts and settings. Lehman’s compositions often achieve a kind of beguiling surface calm, with pensive monochromatic dabs of sound serving as a backdrop for more detailed pointillistic soloing. … 'I feel like I’ve gotten better at being genuine with my intentions as I’ve gotten older'" ("Music," New Haven Advocate, 10/8/09, p. 41).