Veteran bassist Ben Wolfe mixes and matches modern post bop sounds with strings with a core team of Donald Edwards/dr, pianists Orrin Evans or Luis Perdomo, vibist Joel Ross, a string section of Jesse Mills/vi, Georgy Valtchev/vi, Kenji Bunch/va and Wolfram Koessel/cel and guest horns Ruben Fox/ts, JD Allen/ts, Giveton Gelin/tp and Steve Davis/tb.
Sans strings, the horns are bluesy and assertive with Gelen leading the charge on “Opener” and Allen getting into a strong pitch on the “Tunisia” sounding “The Enforcer.” The strings create rich atmospheres, going from Bartok toswing on the dramatic “The Kora LA” while riding alongside Ross’s vibes on the mood changing “Blind Seven.” Elliptical sounds and atmospheres get askance on the sharp “Edged” while Wolfe lets everyone sway to “Gone Now.” Clever charts that work wonders and demand attention.