Michael Eaton leads a wide ranging yet bopping band of David Liebman/sax, Brad Whiteley/p, Daniel Ori-Scott Colberg/b, Jon Crowley/tp and Shareef Taher/dr while he himself writest the material and contributes some tenor and soprano work of his own. The main feature is a five part “Individuation” that relies on a piano motif that veers into various rhythm patterns tha range from a gallop and canter to a Stravinsky-like Rite of Spring groove on which the saxes improvise. Some wonderful bop lines between the saxes are felt on individual songs such as “Prickly” and ”Alter Ego” while Whiteley’s piano prances with Ori’s bass on “Me, But Not Myself.” An assertive pattern on “Centrifuge” features countermelodies between Crowley’s trumpet and the battle of wits between sax and drums, while the urgent groove on “Guru” includes some searing blowing by the leader. Impressive and clever post bop material here.
Destiny Records