Chris Potter Quartet

Over the past three decades, saxophonist Chris Potter has set Olympic standards in any number of settings: solo projects, trios, 10-piece bands, big bands. His new quartet features some of his oldest friends, who also happen to be among the most accomplished improvisers in jazz: bassist Dave Holland, keyboardist Craig Taborn, and drummer Eric Harland. With each, in varying combinations, Potter has performed for years. Taborn was a member of his “Underground” band, defined by its rough embrace of rock and funk. Harland is in his grooving “Circuits” trio. And Potter, of course, has been Holland’s go-to saxophonist for more than two decades. But this is the first time these four master players have come together as a quartet. Their SFJAZZ performances will be lessons in interaction, imagination, and intuition. “It doesn’t matter what the notes on the page are,” Potter says. “We could play free, we could play standards, and it’s going to sound like us.”