Drummer Jeff Williams leads a post bop quartet with Duane Eubanks/tp, John O’Gallagher/as and John Hebert/b through a collection of free form musings in front of a London audience. Being a live gig, the band is allowed to stretch out quite a bit, and without a piano to hold things to terra firma, the music floats akin to early Ornette Coleman’s lighter than air bands with Donald Cherry. Lots of spaciousness allows for Herbert’s bass to fill in many gaps, while material like “Borderline” and “Lament,” while meandering a bit, is held together by the fine solos by the horns and the surprising sharp turns that show that the band is quite in sync with itself. A reading of “Dedicated to You” features a golden tone by Eubanks, while the leader displays his skills at the helm on “Scrunge/Search Me.” For fans that like the outside looking in, here’s a fun one.
Whirlwind Recordings
www.willfulmusic.com