The name of the band is due to the flexible size arrangement. Believe it or not, the core band is a quintet consisting of Nick Anaya/ts, James Davis/tp, Tim Stine/g, Chris Dammann/b and Dylan Andrews/dr. This band sometimes strips down to a trio or expands to a septet with guests Richard Zili/cl, Mabel Kwan/prepared piano adding textures.
The band has an instinctively loose and bluesy bop feel, with Davis and Anaya wheeling and dealing on a stretched out “Red Green and Blue” and swaggering “Ode to 2.” On this two disc set, the band shows its artsier inclinations on the short pieces such as “Whistle Scream and Sigh, Stam” and”Gravity, Resolve, Persistence” while the Andrews and Damman kick the team into overdrive as they crack the whip on “Insatiable Machine.” Anaya’s tenor goes from drop dead gorgeous on “Wandering” to harsh squawks on “Stand Fast” while the team displays delicate sensitivity on “Hope.” A Mingusy feel of incessant pulse, experimentation yet a firm foundation of jazz’s roots permeates this creative session.
Milk Factory Productions