Trumpeter and leader forms a rich post modern team of Ravi Coltrane/ss-ts, Andy Milne/p, Drew Gress/b and Mark Ferber/dr on this latest ambitious release. Alessi’s horn is wide ranging in its expressiveness, gasping in the shadows of “Pittance” sighing with Coltrane’s tenor during “Good Boy” and lurking with Milne on “Around the Corner.” The team gets muscular and assertive on “Melee” with Alessi blowing brightly and Coltrane’s soprano delivering frisky ideas along the galloping groove, while the team is declaratory during the title track. The harmonies of the two horns create some rich 3 dimensional textures as on the pastoral “Tide” and elliptical “Improper Authorities” with the Ferber and Gress keeping the stallions roped in. Impressive modern emotions.
ECM Records