New York-based saxophonist and composer Kevin Sun will release two ambitious new jazz albums, Kevin Sun, I and Kevin Sun, II, on September 25, 2026, through his independent label, Endectomorph Music. Rather than presenting a conventional double album, Sun offers two interconnected recordings that explore modern jazz composition, improvisation, and ensemble interaction from different perspectives, making them among the most anticipated contemporary jazz releases of 2026.
Both albums are designed to complement one another while standing independently. "This isn't really a conventional double album," Sun explains. "It's more like a pair of video games set in the same universe, each with its own style and cast of characters."
Across the two releases, Sun demonstrates the compositional approach that has made him one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz. His writing provides structured frameworks that encourage spontaneous creativity, allowing each musician to develop an individual voice within carefully crafted compositions.
As Brad Cohan of The New York City Jazz Record noted, "Sun is a protean force who displays relative ease in hurdling from majestic melodicism to seat-gripping improvisational intensity."
Following ten acclaimed releases over the past eight years, Sun began asking himself a deceptively simple question: What makes a great jazz composition? That search became the foundation for both Kevin Sun, I and Kevin Sun, II.
"For me, the best compositions are at heart vehicles for improvisation," Sun says. "They're designed to bring out the best in each individual musician. They raise the stakes for improvising and let everyone sound their best, or just more like themselves than anything else."
Kevin Sun, I features guitarist Max Light, bassist Walter Stinson, and drummer Jon Starks in a studio production that evolved through more than a year of performances at Brooklyn's Lowlands Bar. The extensive live performances allowed the quartet to refine the material before entering the recording studio, resulting in performances that feel both polished and spontaneous.
The album opens with "Go In," the lead single and one of Sun's most technically demanding compositions. Inspired by John Coltrane's harmonic innovations, the piece combines complex harmonic movement with shifting meters while maintaining an energetic sense of forward momentum. Other highlights include "Scrollwork," an intricate exploration of four-part rhythmic counterpoint, and "Hold Music," which transforms the frustration of a lengthy IRS phone call into an inventive musical narrative filled with tension and release.
Recorded under very different circumstances, Kevin Sun, II captures the energy of a working band fresh off the road. Featuring bassist Walter Stinson alongside pianist Christian Li and drummer Kayvon Gordon, the album was recorded in a single afternoon at Terrarium Studio in Minneapolis following a week-long U.S. tour. With minimal editing, the recording preserves the immediacy and chemistry developed through live performance.
The second volume also reflects the broad range of influences that shape Sun's musical identity. His interpretation of Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Chanson" showcases the quartet's lyrical sensitivity, while "Laura Palmer's Theme" pays tribute to the late filmmaker David Lynch through a fresh arrangement of Angelo Badalamenti's iconic composition from Twin Peaks. Another standout, "Unformed, Shrouded by Fog," adapts the memorable spoken introduction from the acclaimed video game Dark Souls into an atmospheric jazz composition dedicated to actress Pik-Sen Lim.
Sun's music comfortably bridges jazz tradition with contemporary cultural influences. His compositions draw inspiration from John Coltrane, Benny Golson, David Lynch, FromSoftware's immersive video games, and Ryuichi Sakamoto's distinctive blend of minimalism and lyricism. Rather than functioning as stylistic references, these influences become launching points for music that is deeply personal and unmistakably his own.
Over the past decade, Kevin Sun has earned recognition as one of New York City's leading modern jazz composers and tenor saxophonists. His recordings have been praised for their harmonic sophistication, inventive structures, and emotional depth, while his work as founder of Endectomorph Music has helped spotlight a new generation of creative improvised music.
With Kevin Sun, I and Kevin Sun, II, Sun brings together years of musical exploration into two complementary recordings that celebrate melody, improvisation, and collaboration. The albums reaffirm his belief that the strongest jazz compositions are those that inspire musicians to create something unique in the moment—a philosophy that resonates throughout both releases.
Kevin Sun will celebrate the albums with a release concert on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Bar Bayeux in Brooklyn, giving audiences an opportunity to hear music from both recordings performed live ahead of their official release.
Kevin Sun, I and Kevin Sun, II will be released on September 25, 2026, via Endectomorph Music.
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