“Arman Sangalang spearheads the next generation of Filipino-Americans making headway for equal representation on the stage and airwaves.  His knowledge of the history of the music informs his atmospheric originals and use of modern textures and soundscapes, creating mindful and inviting interaction with his listeners.” 

-Jon Irabagon 

“With the release of Quartet, Arman makes his case for the attention of the international audience. This is undoubtedly the start of a very promising career”

-Walter Smith III 

Chicago tenor saxophonist and composer Arman Sangalang makes an auspicious debut as a bandleader with Quartet on the newly-minted Calligram Records. Backed by the simpatico rhythm section of bassist Matt Ulery, guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Devin Drobka, Sangalang presents a program of sophisticated original compositions and a soulful rendition of “Polka Dots and Moonbeams,” all delivered with maturity and depth that belie his 25 years. 

The music on Quartet stems in part from a highly competitive Jazz Links fellowship from the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The award allowed Sangalang to dive deep into composition studies with Ulery, a renowned composer and bandleader in his own right, and offered opportunities to refine the quartet’s collective voice through performances at Make Music Chicago, Epiphany and other Chicago venues. Sangalang further honed his writing and bandleading chops as a participant in the prestigious Jazz Aspen Summer Academy. Ultimately, this all culminated in an inspired set by the quartet on the Von Freeman stage of the 2022 Chicago Jazz Festival, a moment that definitively announced Sangalang’s arrival on the scene to everyone in the packed festival tent. His bandmates, all of whom are influential mentors and experienced veterans of the creative music scene, made it clear that now was time to hit the studio. Recorded in Dave Miller’s intimate Whiskey Point Studio, the result is an album of diverse colors, subtle structures and tightrope interaction.