One of the most important of today’s left of center alto saxists is David Binney, with each release filled with energy and creativity. Here, he mixes and matches with a team of Luca Mendoza-Paul Cornish/key, Ethan Moffitt-Logan Kane/b, Benjamin Ring/dr, Jon Hatamiya/tb, Aaron Janik/tp and Kenny Wollesen/vib-perc for seven fervent originals.
Binney’s sax is Jackie McLean bright, searing through “Second To None”, angular around the piano and bass work of “Resembler” and soft, building up to a red hot fire on “Opal”. The dynamics are just as flexible as Binney’s tone, as the tea goes from a subdued bass intro into overdrive on the ecstatic “Tomorrow’s Journey” while Binney starts from soft breathy nuance to ecstatic cries on the dramatic “Cali Culture”. As pungent as South Indian cuisine.