Outside trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith teams up with compatriots Jamie Saft/p-key, Joe Morris/b and Balazs Pandi/dr for six band composed pieces.What keeps these explorative pieces together is the rich, warm and clear tone of Smith’s trumpet, whether open or with a mute, as he spotlights the latter on the spacious and Spartan opener “Gneiss” or with a no holds barred arm wrestling match with Pandi on “Janus Face.” The six songs take over an hour, so there is lots of time for interaction and taking rabbit trails, as the nine minute “Debts of Honor” has a gentle meander to it, while there is some serious stomping between Morris’ bowed bass, Saft’s electric piano as well as some piercing trumpet work on “Tragic Wisdom.” What you’ll walk away with is feeling like you came into a series of solos which the opening and closing melody were edited out, which for those lovers of trapeze artists without a net, will enjoy in this center ring of the circus.
Rare Noise Records