Dark Horse came to life when Alt arrived in New York with more material than anticipated. While Royalty For Real marked a return to acoustic jazz and paid tribute to trumpet icon Roy Hargrove, this new album pivots toward discovery, capturing the music that surfaced organically as soon as the tapes began rolling. The result is a cohesive snapshot of Alt’s artistry at full sail: melodic, rhythmically compelling, and constantly in dialogue with the city and the musicians around her.

At the heart of the album is its namesake concept: the “dark horse” – an unannounced, unlikely force that transforms the landscape and rewards perseverance. Here, Alt channels that spirit, suggesting that openness and determination not only weather uncertainty but transform it into momentum, creativity, and meaning.

The sound of Dark Horse is warm and immediate, presenting the band up-close with raw edges intact. Alt’s lines draw on Soul, Funk, Latin, and Bop, while the New York rhythm section maintains a pulse that is elastic and dynamic, allowing musical ideas to stretch, snap back, and spark anew. It is the same chemistry that powered Royalty For Real, now reframed in the service of exploration over homage, process over blueprint, and movement over destination.

Album highlights include the funk-tinged opener Jazz Biotic, the fusion-leaning Altitudes of Freedom, and the raw, driving title track Dark Horse. Au Privave by Charlie Parker was captured spontaneously when the pianist arrived late, while Maple Jam nods to pianist Larry Willis. Cannonballin’ and Jonesin’ honor bassist Gerald Cannon and drummer Willie Jones III, respectively, and tracks like Kalunga Dance reflect the studio’s vibrant energy.

The album features an elite rhythm section at its core: keyboardist James Hurt, whose work spans jazz, mainstream, and hip-hop/electronic projects; bassist Gerald Cannon, longtime member of Elvin Jones’ band and former McCoy Tyner musical director; and drummer Willie Jones III, acclaimed for his performances with Milt Jackson and Arturo Sandoval. Cannon and Jones III’s seven-year collaboration in Roy Hargrove’s band brings a deep, intuitive groove to the session.

Dark Horse is a forward-looking record – an invitation to embrace the unforeseen and celebrate the music that emerges when mastery meets openness.