Tenor saxophonist Rich Halley delivers a loosely swinging album with free spirits Vinny Golia/bs-bcl, Michael Vlatkovich/tb, Carson Halley/dr and Clyde Reed/b through a collection of originals that feel like vintage 60s Mingus material.
The mix of Halley’s dark and pungent tenor melds well with Golia’s earthy bari and moody bass clarinet, while Vlatkovich keeps things sliding up and down as he sighs on the languid bluesy and bopping pieces like “Recipe For Improvisers” and the sighing “The Way Through.” Halley’s horn is palpable in its texture as the horns veer in and out of kilter and Reed keeps the front line from scrambling on material such as “Urban Crunch” and “ Reciprocity.” The reeds brood on “Du Fu’s Stew” and Carson Halley’s mallets rumble throu8gh the herky jerky “Rising From the Plains.” The band walks the tightrope the entire album, swaying left and right, but always making it across to the other end.