A pair of post bop sessions.
Trombonist Michael Vlatkovich brings together a forward looking team of Ron Miles/ct, Wade Sander/bstb, Mark Harris/as-cl-bcl, Glenn Nitta/ts, Kent McLagen/b and Chris Lee/dr for a collection of originals. There’s a free form New Orleanish jam with growling trombone and dancing clarinet on “ Chari Red Blue Medley that goes on for 16 minutes, and the lonely “Madam Why” sprawls on for 10 minutes with some lovely work by Miles and McLagen. The bluesy bopper “Ethe Eventual supremacy of Reasy” features Harris’ pungent alto while the repetitive “Innumerable Mementos…” drones on with the same theme for a couple choruses two many. A bit of rhythm livens up “Missing C…” and the grooving “1 ¾ Southeast…” so there’s a bit of variety here between the languid vibes.
Alto saxist Matt Criscuolo leads a team of Preston Murphy/b, Ed Soph/dr and Tony Purrone/g through a collection of mix of sophisticated originals and covers. His rich alto cries with vibrato on “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” along with interplay between guitar and bass, while Purrone’s “Karma At Dharma” drives with an edge along with Criscuolo’s crying horn. “At Night” features some clever guitar picking, and the band is able to swing to Murphy’s riff on “Centripetal.” Some oblique and elliptical moments pop up, most noticeably on the teeter tottering “Enchanted” which keeps the listener attentive. Sophisticated modern sounds here.
Pf Mentum Records
Jazzeria Records