Noasis

Noasis is the opening track from the 2014 jazz album Rise and Shine. Composed and performed by saxophonist Matt Renzi, bassist David Ambrosio, drummer Russ Meissner, and trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the piece spans 4 minutes and 23 seconds. The track exemplifies the album’s blend of contemporary jazz improvisation with structured compositional frameworks.

The album Rise and Shine was released on June 17, 2014 under the independent label Three P’s Records. The primary format was a physical CD, though digital distribution followed. The recording sessions captured the quartet’s collaborative interplay, with Renzi and Alessi contributing original material alongside collective arrangements. Noasis serves as the first of eight tracks on the release, setting the tonal foundation for the album’s exploratory approach.

Critical reception of Rise and Shine noted the ensemble’s dynamic range and the track’s balance between lyrical phrasing and rhythmic complexity. The album’s production emphasized acoustic clarity, allowing the interplay between Ambrosio’s bass lines, Meissner’s percussive textures, and the frontline horns to remain distinct. Further details about the compositional process or live performances of Noasis are not publicly documented.

The quartet’s configuration for this project reflected a temporary collaboration rather than a fixed group. Renzi and Alessi had previously worked in overlapping New York jazz circles, while Ambrosio and Meissner contributed to the session as sidemen. No subsequent studio or live recordings of Noasis by these artists have been confirmed.