Bassist Fima Ephron shows that adventurous music can be as accessible as it is exciting. He brings together a top notch group reed master Chris Potter, guitarist Adam Rogers along with a stellar rhythm team of Nate Smith/dr, Kevin Hays/p-keys and guests David Torn/elec and Adrian Harpan Harphan/mix.
His compositions have Smith working in overtime to create rich exotic pulses with tribal moods for Rogers’ upbeat guitar on “Arboreal” as well as the optimistic groove for Potter’s bright tenor sax during “Beaulieu.” Roger’s guitar makes the atmosphere a bit edgy as Ephron and Hays drive the caravan through exotic landscapes on “Bamboo” and has Potter sighing over the infectious dance of “Times Fly.” Folksy guitar strings strummed by Rogers are richly pastoral on “Know Self” and things get even more intimate with Hays’ piano on impressionistic and stark arias “Fortune” and “Signs” but there is still room for a party with the hip and funky “Plan Nine” with the band supplying an infectious backbeat for the necks to get supple.
Enough textures for the intellect and ideas for the heart and visceral. Any tours on the horizon?