Pianist Mary Lou Williams’ classic “Zodiac Suite” is re-imagined by the trio of Jeon Lim Yang/b, Santago Leibson/p and Gerald Cleaver/dr, with some stretching and pulling involved throughout. The interplay is quite intuitive, ranging from some tensile rubato work on “Pisces” to frantic drum and bass work on “Leo”. Leibson gets Monkish with Yang on “Scorpio” and strides wide on “Taurus”, with Cleaver loose with the sticks on “Aries” and deft with the brushes on a blue “Cancer”. Personal horoscopes.
Bassist/composer Zack Lober creates an unorthodox trio with drummer Sun-Mi Hong and trumpeter Suzan Veneman for his debut album as a bandleader. Veneman rises to the occasion as the lead instrument, with a warm , Kenny Dorham-toned horn working well on the solo feature “Loved Ones” or delivering a clarion call on “Luck (Alice), bopping well on “Mid Music”. Lober is contemplative in his picking of “A Hymn” and works well on the give and take with Hon during the pulsating “Force Majeure”, as the drummer rumbles on his aria of “Sun Drums” or gives hi hat grooves on the loose fitting title tune. Secondary colors on the palate.