On the evening of April 14, the Blue Note NYC transformed into an aviary of sound as the David Murray Quartet offered a stunning two-performance evening ahead of their upcoming album Birdly Serenade. With doors opening at 6 p.m., the iconic jazz club quickly filled with a cross-generational crowd, eager to witness the return of a titan. And Murray, ever the Promethean force on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, did not disappoint.

Backed by a razor-sharp trio of pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter, Murray led the group through an hour of shape-shifting compositions that felt both grounded and soft. Several selections hinted at the bird-inspired motifs of Birdly Serenade, due April 25 on Impulse! Records. The title track, recently released with vocalist Ekep Nkwell—who made a notable and remarkable appearance for three separate songs in the set—lingered in the room, especially as Murray’s saxophone thrilled and swooped with feathered agility.

The quartet moved effortlessly between angular improvisation and soulful swing, conjuring the spiritual intensity of Murray’s early work while leaning into the freshness of this new chapter. Sánchez’s piano work shimmered—equally capable of abstract flourishes and lyrical grace—while Stewart and Carter offered a rhythmic backbone that pulsed with freedom. As Murray approaches elder statesman status, performances like this one make it clear he’s still in flight—still searching, still singing, still breaking the mold.

For fans of boundary-pushing jazz and those who care about the future of the form, this wasn’t just a concert—it was a reminder that the tradition lives, breathes, and evolves in real time.