Post bop tenor saxist JD Allen teams up with Gregg August/b and Rudy Royston/dr for a free flying roller coaster ride of originals. He’s most in the pocket on the bopping “Indigo (Blue Like) and lays down a rich blues groove on “Little Mack” that is hard to resist. He’s playful on the publike song “G-dspeed, B. Morris” and shows his Coltrane allegiances with August on “Sonny Boy.” Most of the other p ieces such as “Naked”, Graffiti” and “Jawn Henry” are filled with careening and hectic drums which rumble and flail like an ejector seat for Allen’s blistering tone that tries to break through the ozone layer or drill the earth for oil. Lots of soloing, and it could take some time to find the melody in the mix, but the journey is mostly worthwhile.
Savant Records