Reviewed: 2018-04-27
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: A cohesive unit that commands an exceptional stylistic range and exhibits a go-for-broke attitude. On their sophomore release, the pianoless quartet delivers more of the bright melodic lines, deep-seated grooves, catchy rhythmic devices and sophisticated incorporating improvisations that run wild, as soloists embrace aggressive and daring ideas from the realms of modal jazz, free-jazz, second-line and soul, not to mention good old-fashioned swing.
If You Like: Return To Forever, Al Di Meola, Wayne Shorter
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Break Tune (5:33) – sax starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> sax solo> musicians trade off short solos> uptempo jam> quick stop
*2/ Two Pan Man (5:25) – sax starts> midtempo jam> sax/guitar duet> soaring sax solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> false stop> midtempo jam> slow fade
3/ Possum Dark (6:21) – guitar starts with heavy chords> midtempo jam> sax solo goes wild> bass solo> rocking guitar solo> slows to midtempo jam> heavy fade & some notes
*4/ It’s Alright With Me (4:14) – bass starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> bass/drums duet> uptempo jam> quick stop
5/ Third Floor (5:56) – sax starts> slow jam> bass solo> sax solo> slow jam> slow fade
*6/ Etosha (5:01) – drums start> uptempo funky jam> sax solo> soaring sonic guitar solo> sax solo> fast jam> quick fade
*7/ Roots (4:44) – bass starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> guitar solo> sax solo> uptempo jam slows to midtempo> fade
8/ Affirmation (7:20) – bass starts> midtempo jam> uptempo sax solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> crescendo & stop
*9/ To The Puente (4:37) – drums/guitar starts> uptempo with Latin vibe> sax solo> bass solo> guitar solo with flamenco touches> uptempo jam> quick stop
10/ Mist (4:55) – bass starts> slow jam> sax solo> slow jam> slow fade
11/ Fit Bit (5:52) – sax starts> fast jam slows to sow jam then speeds up again> drum solo> fast jam> sax solo> guitar solo> fast jam slows to fade